§ Sir W. Allenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of Royal Irish Constabulary pensioners now in receipt of pensions granted prior to 1st April, 1919; the amount of the annual pensions paid to constables, sergeants and head constables, respectively; and whether he will consider an increase of pension to these men owing to the increased cost of living and their diminishing numbers?
§ Sir K. WoodI regret that the figures for which my hon. Friend asks are not immediately available and could not be furnished without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. I may say, however, that on 30th September, 1939, there were 2,855 Royal Irish Constabulary pensioners in receipt of pensions aggregating £282,677 per annum, and that of this number 1,488 were in receipt of increases of pension under the Pensions Increase Acts, 1920 and 1924, aggregating £38,785 per annum. As my hon. Friend has been previously informed, these Royal Irish Constabulary pensioners could not be treated differently from other pensioners who are within the scope of the Pensions Increase Acts, and it has been stated by successive Governments that they cannot contemplate legislation to amend those Acts.