§ MR. O'DOWDTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland when the Government intend to wind up the Royal Irish Constabulary Force Fund.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The benefit branch of the Royal Irish Constabulary Force Fund is being gradually wound up. Under the Constabulary Act of 1883 the fund was closed to new entrants, and none have since been received. The present liabilities upon the fund are in respect of the surviving subscribers out of those who had entered prior to 1883, and as long as any of these subscribers remain the fund cannot be finally wound up. The subscribers have no interest in the capital of the fund, seeing that when existing liabilities have been discharged any balance that may remain will be surrendered to the Exchequer. For full details of the subject I beg to refer the hon. Member to Parliamentary Paper, No. 118, of Session 1891.