§ 12. Mr. BRIANTasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who are demobilised are eligible for the unemployment grant?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Dr. Macnamara)I have been asked to reply. Regular members of the Royal Irish Constabulary were excluded from the Insurance Act by Section 40. Members of the temporary forces auxiliary to the Royal Irish Constabulary are insurable in respect of their service in that force. I understand that on demobilisation these men received, or are in course of receiving, payment in respect of their service. The question whether benefit is payable whilst they are in receipt of this payment has been referred to the Umpire for decision.
§ Mr. BRIANTAre men who joined up for 12 months eligible for unemployment pay?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI should like to have notice of that question.
§ 13. Mr. HOGGEasked the Chief Secretary what is the present position of the Royal Irish Constabulary in the South of Ireland?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Sir H. Greenwood)There are at present in Southern Ireland 233 officers and 5,764 other ranks belonging to the permanent establishment of the Royal Irish Constabulary. Arrangements are well forward for the disbandment of these men, who constitute the Irish enlisted members of this force. All. British recruits to the force have left or are in course of leaving Ireland.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the British Government still responsible for the pay and discipline of these men, or the Provisional Government?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe British Government is responsible.
§ 30. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Prime Minister what are the amounts at present standing to the credit of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund and the Queen's Jubilee Fund, and how and in whose names are the funds invested; and whether, in view of the approaching disbandment of the Irish police force, the Government will take immediate steps for the winding-up of those funds and the distribution amongst the parties entitled?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in the Debate on the Supplementary Estimates on the 20th instant, when I suggested that he should put down a question to be answered, say, in a fortnight's time. If he will give me the notice for which I asked I hope to be in a position to give him a full and satisfactory reply.