§ Mr. BOOTHasked the Prime Minister what is the attitude of the Government to the Irish Workers and Transport Union; 26W if he can state how many members have enlisted to serve the Crown and how many joined the so-called Citizen Army; whether the union is an approved society under the National Health Insurance scheme; and what steps are being taken to provide for the payment of sickness and other benefits due to its members?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am informed that about 2,500 members of this union, of whom 1,000 were Reservists, have joined His Majesty's Forces, and that the strength of the Citizen Army before the rebellion was about 100 men and twenty Boy Scouts. The union is approved by the Irish Insurance Commission for the transaction of business under the Insurance Act, and the Commission see no reason for interfering with the union as far as this business is concerned. The payment of benefits is carried out subject to proof being given that the claimants are entitled thereto, but delay may occur in authenticating the claims in some cases.