asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that by Statute married officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary were entitled to temporary allowances of 25s. a day for the first five days' absence from home, 20s. a day for the next nine days, and 15s. a day for the remainder of the term; that for permanent transfer from one place to another married officers could claim the cost of moving their furniture; and that, in order to avoid paying these allowances or for the cost of moving the furniture, a special overriding order (File No. 12,457 F) was issued, signed A. W. Cope, on the 7th May entirely altering these allowances and giving special rates, far less in amount, to these officers; and whether he will cancel these instructions and allow these officers their statutory allowances?
I am making inquiries in regard to this matter, and if the hon. and gallant Member will be good enough to repeat his question later in the week I will give him an answer.
asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that on the 1st May, 1922, a circular letter was issued, No. F827, signed by the Deputy Inspector-General, giving instructions with regard to the disturbance allowance to be given to the disbanded members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and stating that the form which was forwarded must be completed and returned to the Royal Irish Constabulary office within two months of the date of receipt, and that a warning should be conveyed to these men that if they failed to return the form within two months, or gave a satisfactory explanation of the delay, the disturbance allowance would be deducted from their pension; and whether he can say, with reference to his statement on the 10th May, that the period allowed for removal was six months and might possibly be extended, any further instructions have been given to cancel the circular letter of the 1st May?
The hon. and gallant Member is evidently under a misapprehension. As stated in the Terms of Disbandment, the disturbance allowance will be payable on demand at the date of disbandment or at any time within six months thereafter. The circular referred to merely fixes the period after the actual payment of the allowance in each case within which it must be accounted for.