§ MR. BLAKEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, If he will be good enough to state if the sum unexpended out of the £250,000 voted by Parliament last Session, from the Irish Church Fund, for the construction of fishery piers and harbours, will bear interest until the whole amount shall be expended; and, if so, what rate of interest will be allowed; and, whether such interest will be on the difference between the sum actually expended on works, and the original sum allocated by Parliament?
§ MR. COURTNEYThe hon. Gentleman has already made this suggestion and has been promised that it will be very carefully considered. It would be a great motive to allow interest on the unexpended balance, if the Fishery Commissioners would thus be induced to treat the fund as something to be maintained as a permanent resource, instead of expending the whole capital in five or six years. No action is, however, possible at present, as legislation would be required if the suggestion were adopted.
§ MR. BLAKEasked whether steps would be taken to promote such a measure as would insure that the unexpended portion of the fund would bear interest until the whole amount had been expended?
§ MR. COURTNEYI have already indicated that the matter is being considered, and will, I think, be favourably so; but nothing can be done until next year.