§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state when the Bill to give effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission of 1901 with respect to the pay and conditions of service of the Royal Irish Constabulary will be introduced; whether any provision has been made in the Estimates for the next financial year for the increased expenditure; and whether he will state how many years have elapsed since the members of this force were granted an increase in their annual pay.
MR. BIRRELIThe Bill in question will be introduced at the earliest opportunity, but I am not at present in a position to fix a date. It would be quite irregular to anticipate the decision of Parliament by making provision for the increased expenditure in the coming Estimates. The pay of the force was last increased by the Constabulary Act of 1883.