§ MR. GIVANasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government will at once bring in a Bill to remove the difficulties that have arisen as to the interpretation of the 9th sub-section of the 8th Clause of "The Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881," in reference to rent on tenants' improvements, and which in the case of Adams against Dunseath have led to a serious divergence of opinion amongst the members of the Court of Appeal in Ireland?
MR. GLADSTONEWith regard to this Question, I have to inform the hon. Gentleman that I have not yet even seen so much as an authentic copy of the judgment in the case, and that we have not had an opportunity of considering and deciding for ourselves whether its effect is materially to modify the scope and operation of the Bill such as it was conceived and such as it was explained by the Government. But I am bound to say it is too early in the day to put such a Question. The prospect of our at once introducing a Bill for making an altera- 1948 tion in the Act is one as to which the Government can make no promise.