§ MR. YERBURGH (Chester)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the statement in The Standard of the 16th instant, to the effect—
That of the £5,000,000 authorized by Lord Ashbourne's Act to be advanced to tenants for the purchase of their holdings, £4,500,000 had been applied for up to the end of February,is correct; and, if so, whether the Government intend, during the present Session, to introduce a Bill to promote the further operation of the said Act?
§ TEE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said: The amount applied for up to the end of February was £4,700,000; but that includes £390,000 which was re- 28 fused. The amount applied for and not refused is, therefore, something under the figure stated in the Question. Of this, however, only £3,680,000 has as yet been actually sanctioned; so that there remains considerably over £1,000,000 undisposed of. The Government are carefully considering the question as to the course which it may be best to pursue in these circumstances.