§ Mr. MacNEILLasked whether the allowances of the assistant inspector-general and other officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary are included in the computation of the basis on which their pensions are arranged, whereas the allowances of the rank and file of the force, which are comparatively paltry, are not so included; and, if so, what is the reason of this differentiation of treatment in favour of the officers to the exclusion of the men; and will steps be taken for its abolition?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Constabulary (Ireland) Act, 1874, under which the officers of the force are pensioned, provides that for pension purposes the term salary shall include all allowances for lodging, house rent, and servant. The Act of 1883, under which the head and other constables are pensioned, makes no provision for the inclusion of any allowances in the computation of pension. The great majority of the2142W rank and file live in barracks, and have no allowances corresponding to the pensionable allowances of officers. A lodging allowance is made to married men so long as they can be accommodated in barracks. The Committee of Inquiry of 1901, whose Report has been presented to Parliament, reported against the proposal that this allowance should count for pension.