§ MR. MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether his attention has been directed to the First Report of the Commission appointed to inquire into the Law relating to the Registration of Deeds and Assurances in Ireland, page 100, whence it appears that the official searching room is wholly inadequate and utterly un- 1211 wholesome; that there is great complaint by the staff of the ill effects upon their health of the system of heating by hot water pipes; that these complaints are well-founded; that the mode of generating heat in the Office is unwholesome; and that the Treasury are losing because the staff are suffering from ill-health; whether any steps will be taken to remedy these evils, which have, after the lapse of nine years from the tendering of this evidence, increased; and, whether he will be prepared to grant a Return showing how many of the 62 officers and clerks who were on the permanent staff of the Office in June, 1878, are now in the Department, and a Return showing the annual Revenue derived during the five years ending on the 31st day of December, 1887, by the Exchequer through the operation of the Registry of Deeds Office; (a.) On account of Duty stamps on muniments; (b.) On account of fee stamps; and the annual cost to the Treasury during the same period?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)The Report of the Commission was made in 1881, since which date the staff to be accommodated in the Registry of Deeds has been reduced from 69 to 50, and it will be further reduced, as vacancies occur, to 48. I have no reason to believe that the existing staff is in excess of the capabilities of the building, or that the latter is not in a wholesome condition; but it is hoped that arrangements may before long be made which will render it possible to transfer the work and staff of the Registry of Deeds to the building in Henrietta Street, now occupied by the officers of the Probate Court. For the last five years the average receipts in stamps have been £12,551, and the average cost of the Office, including non-effective and other charges, £20,668. Probably, with this information, the hon. Member will not think it necessary to press for a Return.