§ MR. DUFFY (Galway, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware of the existence of an agitation for a number of years back among the Royal Irish Constabulary pensioners of the United Kingdom, requesting the immediate winding up of the Constabulary Force Fund; is he aware that his predecessor stated that the Constabulary Force Fund would be wound up as soon as possible; and, seeing that twelve months has passed since then, how soon will the Government be able to carry out this, undertaking.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I am not aware that my predecessor made any statement as to the winding up of this fund, save that it was being gradually wound up by meeting its obligations to widows and orphans of subscribers as they arise. This process of winding up was provided by the Act of 1883, which closed the fund to new entrants, and no more summary method of winding it up is possible.