§ Mr. BYRNEasked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Government have yet issued instructions to the military authorities to cease persecuting Irishmen temporarily resident in Great Britain or there for some special purpose; if his attention has been drawn to a letter sent from the War Office which states that a man to be ordinarily resident in Britain must be described as having his home there; what steps, if any, it is proposed to take to see that those who have their permanent home in Ireland will not be subject to prosecution; if he is aware that a number of Irishmen were sent to Great Britain by the Labour Exchanges and trade unions, receiving guarantees that they would not be conscripted; and if he will take steps to see that guarantees given on the strength of a letter from the War Office will be carried out?
§ Mr. FORSTERI understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland has issued instructions to chief constables in Scotland as to proceedings in the 2689W case of recognised migratory labourers in Scotland, with respect to whom a discussion recently took place in this House. I am not aware of the terms of the War Office letter referred to in the hon. Member's question, or of the action stated to have been taken upon it. The question of recognised Irish migratory labourers is receiving attention at the War Office.