§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has observed by the official 1373 Return of Evictions in Ireland, in the quarter ended the 30th September last, that 1,215 families, comprising 6,139 persons, were evicted; 47 families, comprising 248 persons, were readmitted as tenants; and 569 families, comprising 2,870 persons, readmitted as caretakers, leaving 599 families, comprising 3,021 persons, homeless; whether he has noted that by the official Return for the corresponding quarter of 1883 it appeared that 957 families, comprising 4,671 persons, were evicted, 52 families, comprising 293 persons, readmitted as tenants, 416 families, comprising 1,989 persons, readmitted as caretakers, leaving 489 families, comprising 2,389 persons, homeless; and, in view of the fact that 110 families, comprising 632 persons, have been rendered homeless in the quarter ended 30th September last in excess of the number turned adrift in the corresponding quarter of last year, whether the Irish Executive have any information of the cause of the increase of evictions in the latter period, more especially in Ulster and Connaught?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe Government have observed with regret the figures in the Returns from which the hon. Member quotes. They have no special information as to the causes of the increase in evictions, and the subject is too large to be satisfactorily dealt with by hypothetical arguments within the limits of an answer to a Question. I may observe, however, that persons evicted for non-payment of rent have, by law, a period of six months within which they may redeem or sell, and it may be hoped that in many of these cases this right will be exercised.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman have any objection to cause the Local Government Board to instruct their Inspector to report as to the cause of the increased number of evictions?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI do not know that it is part of the business of the Local Government Board; but I will consider the matter.