77. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the promised Actuarial Report on the Constabulary Force Fund (Relief Branch) has now been completed; and how soon it will be published?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThis Report has not been completed, and I fear that it 21 will not be possible to complete it for some considerable time. The preparation of the Report involves obtaining a great deal of detailed information from Dublin, where circumstances are at present unfavourable for the preparation of complicated statistics of the kind required.
Sir J. BUTCHERIn view of the fact that I was promised this Report about two months ago, could not my right hon. Friend accelerate it?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, but I do not want to press a number of matters of that kind just at this juncture, when obviously the authorities in Dublin are coping with a very grave and difficult situation.
Sir J. BUTCHERAm I not right in supposing that this matter is a matter for the Imperial Government, and not the Provisional Government?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, Sir. I understand it to depend upon the conditions largely in Ireland.