HC Deb 11 November 1920 vol 134 cc1343-4
18. Mr. KILEY

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many recruits have been obtained to date in Ulster for the new Special Constabulary of well-disposed persons; and how many of such recruits were formerly members of the Ulster Volunteer Force.

Lieut.-Colonel ALLEN

Before the right hon Gentleman gives the information asked for in the last part of the question will he say if he does not consider that men qualified for service, during the War are men who may be thoroughly trusted, and relied on to put down rebels who never lose an opportunity of insulting the British flag?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I do not wish to enter into that. About 2,000 applications for enrolment in the Special Constabulary have been received to date, but as yet none have been sworn in. All well disposed persons were invited to join, and no information is available as to the number of the applicants who were-formerly members of the Ulster Volunteer Force. It is not at present known how many applicants have offered themselves as officers.

Mr. DEVLIN

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman did not declare that these special constables were to be recruited all over the country, and subsequently, he confined the recruiting to Belfast and Tyrone in order to arm the political opponents of the Nationalist party to shoot them down in an emergency?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

The last part of the question is utterly untrue. I have power to appoint special constables to each county in turn, and I am doing so.

Mr. DEVLIN

Why are these special constables confined to the City of Belfast and the County Tyrone, the most loyal, law-abiding, orderly parts of the country, and no special constables recruited from any other part? What is the reason why, in the most orderly and law-abiding part of the country, special constables are being recruited?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I consider they are most needed, for various reasons, in the places where we have commenced.

Lieut.-Colonel ALLEN

Is it not the fact that special constables have also been recruited in County Armagh, and are not some of them Roman Catholics?