§ MR. JORDAN (Clare, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in accordance with the provisions of "The Ulster and Tyrone Navigation Act, 1888," the agreement of transfer has been ratified; whether the company has commenced to repair the Ulster and Tyrone Canals, and, if so, to what extent; whether the Treasury has yet paid over to the company any money; and whether the Treasury has negotiated, or is in process of negotiating, a loan to the company?
§ * MR. JACKSONThe agreement referred to has been completed, and the canal has been handed over to the Lagan Navigation Company, who have begun to repair it and to receive instalments of the Parliamentary grant. I am sorry that, owing to the absence of notice of the question, I cannot give the hon. Member particulars of the amount of repairs done by the company, and of the amount of advances from the grant made to them; but I may say that the amount of the advances is determined by the progress of the work. No loan, so far as I know, is in process of negotiation at the present time.
§ MR. JORDANIs it the fact that money has been paid over to the company by the Treasury?
§ * MR. JACKSONYes, some money has been paid over under the agreement, but I am not able to state the amount because I have not yet had time to make the necessary inquiries.
§ MR. JORDANIf I repeat the question on Friday will the hon. Gentleman give me the information?
§ * MR. JACKSONYes, Sir.