§ MR. STAVELEY-HILL (Staffordshire, Kingswinford)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of persons bound over under the Act of Edw. III. in respect of riot and unlawful assembly, and the number committed 247 to prison in default of finding sureties for their good behaviour, in each of the two years ended 30th September, 1908.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The police authorities are unable, without local inquiries throughout Ireland, to state the number of persons bound over in connection with all charges of riot and unlawful assembly. The following, however, are the figures as regards proceedings against persons in connection with cattle-driving, or the replacing of cattle upon farms from which they have been driven: in the year ended 30th September, 1907, three persons were bound to keep the peace and forty-two were committed to prison in default of bail; in the year ended 30th December, 1908, 1,026 persons were bound to keep the peace, and 114 were committed to prison in default.