§ Sir S. HOAREasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much of the £600,000 voted by the House as disturbance allowance of ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary has been expended; and whether he is aware that there is a general feeling amongst former members of the force that there has been delay in the distribution of the money and consequently hardship in several cases of men who have had to leave their homes and take refuge in this country?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI assume that the hon. and gallant Member refers in the first part of his question to the sum of £300,000, which appears as a sub-head in the Royal Irish Constabulary Estimate to provide for disturbance on disbandment and gratuities in cases of exceptional hardship. Of this sum approximately £233,000 has already been expended. I am not aware of the existence of any such feeling as is referred to in the second part of the question, and inasmuch as the disturbance allowance is paid on demand to every disbanded member of1478W the force who applies for it, it is clear that there can be no ground for any such feeling.