asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any British troops are at present stationed in Ireland; and, if so, in what numbers and for what purpose?

There are about 5,500 troops in Ireland at present. The purpose for which they are retained is, as in Great Britain, to make use of the military accommodation available and to discharge appropriate military functions.

Can the hon. and gallant. Gentleman inform us when it is proposed to withdraw all troops from Ireland?

It was never proposed to withdraw all troops from Ireland.

Are there any troops there other than those in Northern Ireland?

We have also garrisons at Berehaven, Lough Swilly and Queenstown.

What arc the "appropriate functions "of British troops in Ireland?

Is it the custom of the Government to maintain British troops in British Dominions?

Ulster is not a British Dominion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can see his way to allow dutiable goods such as old wines and spirits, on which duty has already been paid before the Customs' barrier was set up, to be admitted to this country or to Northern Ireland without a further duty if a certificate was obtained from a magistrate that such goods had already paid duty once?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Finchley (Lieut.-Colonel Archer-Shee) on the 20th March. There is no power in law to exempt these goods from import duty if they arrive in Great Britain or Northern Ireland from the Irish Free State after midnight on the 31st March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give an estimate of the amount of money to be found this year by the British taxpayer to meet the interest on the various classes of Irish land stock which was formerly met by the annuities paid by those who had purchased their farms under various Land Acts, but which annuities, under the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, were handed over as a free gift to the Governments of Northern and Southern Ireland; and does this estimate include the interest on the moneys advanced to Irish local authorities for the erection of labourers' cottages?

Under Section 26 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, an amount estimated at £658,000 in 1923–24 is payable from the British Exchequer to the Irish Land Purchase Fund in respect of the land purchase annuities payable in respect of land situate in Northern Ireland which are now retained by the Government of Northern Ireland under that section. This amount includes the amount of the annuities pay-al- le under the Labourers Act. As regards the Free State, these arrangements were repealed by Section 1 of the Irish Free State (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1922, and the amount of the annuities payable in respect of land situate in the Free State will still be applicable to meet the interest charges on Irish Land Stock.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make inquiries from the authorities of the Irish Free State as to whether Mr. Gilbert Francis Barrington, a British subject whose home is in 90, Mowbray Road, South Shields, who was arrested on 26th February in Ireland and has been lying since in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, without trial, can be allowed to see a solicitor and his brother, who have so far been refused access to him?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to reply to this question. Perhaps, therefore, the hon. Member will put it down again for Thursday.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received from the deportees in Mountjoy Prison a statement of their case and a request that they be put on trial on a definite charge; and whether he will read their statement to the House and indicate what reply he has made?

I would refer to the reply which I gave yesterday to a similar question by the hon. Member for Battersea North (Mr. Saklatvala).

Having regard to the widespread dissatisfaction on this matter in the country, will the right hon. Gentleman give hon. Members an opportunity to visit these internees whenever they desire?

I have already answered that question. I am not aware of widespread dissatisfaction in the country.

If the right hon. Gentleman will take the assurance that I give him that there is dissatisfaction, will he give permission of the kind I have indicated?

No, I cannot do that.

When are we going to get answers to the letters we have sent to the right hon. Gentleman regarding the case of British deportees who have been sent to Ireland without trial Are they going to be kept in internment camps until after Easter?

That does not now arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will take steps to secure the reappointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the finances and management of the Navy and Army Canteen Board which was set up in the last Parliament?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Government will reappoint a Select Committee to inquire into the management and finance of the Navy and Army Canteen Board which was set up by the last Parliament?

My Noble Friend agrees to the re-appointment of a Select Committee with the same terms of reference as were given to the Committee set up by the late Parliament, and I will take steps accordingly.