§ 21. Major NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware of the inadequacy of the pensions received by members of the Royal Irish Constabulary and which were based on rates of pay before the recent increase was granted having regard to the increase in the cost of living; whether he is aware that a sergeant who had twenty-three years' service in the force and was obliged to retire owing to illness contracted on service has to subsist on £38 per annum; and, having regard to the service which-men in the Royal Irish Constabulary were 2121 called on to perform, these pensions can now be raised proportionately for all ranks?
§ Mr. DUKEPensions in all branches of the public service are calculated on the rates of pay in force at the time of the pensioner's retirement, and there is no power in the Executive Government to increase them. I am informed that the case to which the hon. Member refers is that of a sergeant who retired from the Royal Irish Constabulary on medical certificate in August, 1890, and was granted the full pension allowed by Statute.
§ Major NEWMANWould it not be possible to increase these pensions out of the Constabulary Force Fund?
§ 25. Mr. P. WHITEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists in the Royal Irish Constabulary on account of the Pensions Act of 1908, calculating pension allowance not on present pay but on remuneration existing before its passage; and whether he will take action to remedy this condition of affairs?
§ Mr. DUKEI understand that the rates in question are only applicable to men who retire while they are still fit for duty. No change in the law seems, therefore, to be necessary.
§ 26. Mr. WHITEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the war bonus promised recently to members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, including allowance for wife and children, will be made retrospective from the period when the War began; whether his attention has been drawn to the Board of Trade figures for June of this year that the cost of living has increased since June, 1914, by 102 per cent., showing that the recent increase was quite inadequate to support a family decently; and whether, having regard to the guarantee of prices in the Corn Production Bill for a fixed period, thereby keeping up the price of foodstuffs, the pensions to retiring officers will be calculated on the basis of pay plus bonus allowance?
§ Mr. DUKEThe new war bonus for the Royal Irish Constabulary, and Dublin Metropolitan Police, will take effect from 4th June, the date on which the increased war bonus was granted to members of the 2122 London Metropolitan Police. No increase in the scale of pensions can be made without sanction of Parliament.