18. Mr. HAZLETONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether anything has been done by the Irish Government to carry out Section 4 of the Constabulary and Police (Ireland) Act, 1914; how many county inspectors have been appointed or assigned to two or more counties, or to any other area or combination of areas which the Lord Lieutenant considers desirable; and whether it is proposed to make any changes in this respect?
§ Mr. DUKEOne county inspector has been placed in charge of counties Wicklow and Carlow. No further exercise of the power conferred by the Section referred to is at present deemed advisable.
19. Mr. HAZLETONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what allowances received by district inspectors, county inspectors, and assistant inspectors-general of the Royal Irish Constabulary are pensionable; what allowances received by the rank and file are pensionable; and whether he will consider the question of making pensionable in the Bill now before the House allowances to the rank and file for boots, arms, straw, and the making up of uniforms?
§ Mr. DUKEIn the case of county and district inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary the servants' allowance is pensionable and also that for house rent pro- vided it does not exceed one-sixth of the officer's pay. Assistant inspectors-general have no allowances, and those of head and other constables are not pensionable. The suggestion in the last part of the question was considered by the Committee of Inquiry of 1914, who reported that they were unable to recommend it inasmuch as it would introduce one scale of pension for married men and another for single men.
20. Mr. HAZLETONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland from what source are the funds at the disposal of the Crimes Special Department of the Royal Irish Constabulary derived; who controls their expenditure; and what was their amount for the last financial year?
§ 22. Mr. SHEEHYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if it is in accordance with police regulations that, after his marriage, Constable Martin is allowed to remain on at Robinstown, sub-district of Kilmessan, or whether the regulations provide that in circumstances such as his he should be transferred elsewhere?
§ Mr. DUKEThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second, in the negative.
27. Mr. HAZLETONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the number and religious persuasion of the county inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary?
§ Mr. DUKEThere are thirty-seven county inspectors in the Royal Irish Constabulary, of whom thirty-three are Protestants and four are Roman Catholics.
33. Colonel CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state the increased scale of allowances proposed to be granted to officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary?
§ 34. Mr. P. MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that married men of the rank and file of the Royal Irish Constabulary are allowed only a marriage allowance of 2s. per week; and whether, considering the increased cost of living, he will make representations to the Treasury to have this allowance substantially increased for the same reasons as he has recommended an increase of the allowances of the higher officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary?
§ Mr. DUKEThe hon. Member refers to the allowance in aid of rent which is given to married head constables and other constables residing out of barracks, and which is at the rate of 3s. a week in the six large cities and 2s. elsewhere. The Committee of Inquiry of 1914 who considered this matter did not feel justified in recommending an addition to this allowance, and the recent increase in the cost of living has been recognised by the grant of a war bonus to head and other constables. Having regard to the proposals now before the House for an increase of the ordinary rates of pay of these ranks, 415 I do not think that a case could be made out for the suggestion in the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. MEEHANHas not the right hon. and learned Gentleman recommended an increase of £5 yearly as lodging allowance to superior officers, and does he not consider that there should be a similar allowance made to the rank and file?
§ Mr. DUKEThose matters were considered before the consent of the Treasury was asked for the various modifications that are the subject of the proposals partly in the Bill and partly by way of proposed Treasury Minute. I think I cannot add anything as to the calculations to which those who advised me and I came, except by referring the hon. Member to the two sources.
§ Mr. MEEHANIs it not the fact that the allowances of the superior officers are being increased just because they were fixed years ago? Is it not also the fact that this allowance to the rank and file was fixed at the same period?
§ Mr. DUKEThe allowance to which the hon. Member refers, so far as my knowledge goes, was actually under revision by the Committee appointed for the purpose in 1914. They took evidence, and recommended and reported against the proposed change.
§ Mr. MEEHANWas not that a pre-war Committee?
§ Mr. LOUGHDoes not my right hon. and learned Friend think that something in the nature of an extra allowance could be made to married men during the War-confined to the War period only?
§ Mr. DUKEIt is exceedingly difficult, in regard to the complex nature of the proposals of the Bill in this matter of the Irish police to say on a question across the floor of the House, what are the conclusions of the Executive; I hope the matter will be raised in some more convenient form.