§ MR. BIDDELLasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he has obtained reliable Returns of the number of tenants and the amount of their arrears of rent which would come under the cognizance of the Arrears of Rent (Ireland) Bill; and, if so, will he place them before the House; and, if he has not such Returns, will he at once take steps for obtaining them?
MR. GLADSTONEWe are using the best efforts we can to get as particular information as possible about the number and amount of arrears in Ireland; but I cannot say absolutely that we shall be able to succeed in obtaining it in a very formal manner. We have, of course, no authority over private persons to require them to make any disclosure. We have proceeded on the principle of covering whatever uncertainty there may be by a very large margin. But we shall do the best we can.
§ MR. GREGORYasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If he will provide for the remission of tithe rent-charge, quit rent, Income Tax, and any other charge which may be payable to the Government in respect of any holding with regard to which arrears of rent will be cancelled by the operation of the Arrears Bill now before Parliament, and for the period for which those arrears are cancelled?
MR. GLADSTONEI know the attention which the hon. Member has given to this question; but he will not expect me to go in detail into it at the present time, because it will come up for discussion in Committee. But as to 77 the item of Income Tax, I may say-that it is already settled by the present law.