§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary now rank as ex-service men; and, if so, whether the four ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who are at present employed in the Inland Revenue Department will be allowed to retain the status of ex-service men under which they were admitted to the Department, thus being qualified for retention in the service in the category of the non-pensionable "P" class?
§ Mr. McNEILLIt is not, and has not been the practice to regard ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary as entitled to the special preference as regards employment in British Government Departments which has been extended to men who served in the Army, Navy and Air Force during the late War; and I regret that it is not possible to reverse this rule in favour of the four individuals concerned who were, I understand, engaged on a temporary footing by the Inland Revenue Department in Northern Ireland when ex-service men were not available.