45. Mr. FREDERICK HALL (Dulwich)asked if the proposal to meet any difficulty as to the position of Ulster loyalists under Home Rule by the addition of a few police in Belfast represents the present policy of the Government for dealing with the matter; if any communications have passed with the Belfast authorities on the subject; and whether the additional expenditure involved by this policing policy will fall upon the ratepayers of Belfast?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe hon. Member presumably refers to the addition of 200 men to the Belfast Police Force in August last, which was made solely to meet the police requirements of the city and had no connection whatever with the political situation either present or future. The matter formed the subject of correspondence between the municipal authorities and the Irish Government, who were unable to adopt the view that Belfast was entitled to a larger free force. The 200 men will, therefore, be an addition to the extra force in the city, and half of the cost will fall on the ratepayers.