HC Deb 02 September 1880 vol 256 cc1042-3
MR. O'CONNOR POWER

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, If he will state why the Return of the names of persons in arrears under the Irish Reproductive Loan Fund Act, ordered to be laid upon the Table of the House on the 14th June last, has not yet been presented, and if he could state when it will be presented; whether it is a fact that in several cases borrowers under this Act who have paid up their instalments with costs and interest, either to the sheriffs or sheriffs' officers, or to solicitors, are still kept on the arrears lists as defaulters; whether any communications on the subject have been made to the Board of Works by the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries or any other persons; and, if so, whether he has any objection to lay these communications upon the Table; and, whether he is now in a position to state what localities have been selected for the construction of fishery piers and harbours, and the results, thus far, of the labours of the Departmental Commission appointed to inquire into the subject?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

Sir, there has been great difficulty in obtaining the necessary information from the Sessional Crown Solicitors through whom arrears are recovered. The Re-turn has been laid on the Table this afternoon, together with an explanatory statement from the Solicitor to the Board of Works—whose duty it is to take the necessary steps for the recovery of arrears—of the difficulties with which he has to contend. It has been stated, in a letter addressed by the Secretary to the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries to the Accountant of the Commissioners of Public Works, that in several cases borrowers who have paid up their instalments with costs and interest, either to the Sheriffs, or the Sheriff's officers, or to solicitors, are still retained on the arrear lists as defaulters. Special inquiry is being made into the correctness of the allegation. In answer to the third part of the Question, there is no objection to the presentation of the above-mentioned letter to the House. I hope to be able to present names of the localities selected for the construction of fishery piers and harbours before the Prorogation of Parliament.