HC Deb 25 March 1886 vol 303 cc1796-7
MR. ALBERT GREY (Northumberland, Tyneside)

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he can inform the House what is the amount of the loans guaranteed by the Government, for Irish purposes, since the year 1840 to the present time; what amount has been paid off; what amount has been remitted; and, what is the total amount still outstanding?

MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY (Long ford, N.)

I would like to ask the hon. Gentleman if he can inform the House what is the amount of the loans granted by the Government of England from time to time for Turkish purposes, for Greek purposes—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The hon. Gentleman must give Notice of the Question in the usual way.

MR. PARNELL (Cork)

I would ask the Secretary to the Treasury, if he can, in his reply to the hon. Member, distinguish between the loans granted respectively to owners of land in Ireland and to the occupiers of land in Ireland?

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HENRY H. FOWLER) (Wolverhampton, E.)

I must ask my hon. Friend (Mr. Grey) to postpone his Question for a week, in order to give time for the compilation of an accurate Return, and I shall be glad to include any information asked for by the hon. Gentlemen opposite. Does my hon. Friend only refer to loans guaranteed by the State, or does he also refer to loans advanced by the Government?

MR. ALBERT GREY

To both.

SIR JOHN GORST (Chatham)

I would ask the hon. Member whether he would consent to the Return, of which I gave Notice some days ago, and which could not be granted in consequence of the opposition of certain Members of the House?

MR. HENRY H. FOWLER

I have no objection to the Return; but I have no control over hon. Members.

SIR JOHN GORST

Cannot the Treasury lay the Return on the Table?

MR. SEXTON (Sligo, S.)

In his reply, will the hon. Gentleman be good enough to say what parts of the loans were due to the occurrence of a famine between the period of 1846 and 1849?