§ MR. SEYMOUR KEAY (Elgin and Nairn)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many acres of land in Ireland have been purchased by the Irish Land Commission under Clause 5 of "The Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1885;" what amount 673 has been expended by the Land Commission in purchasing the same; how many acres have been sold by the Land Commission under the above clause, what amount has been realised for them, and what number of acres so purchased does the Commission still hold; what is the number of acres and purchase value of holdings resumed by the Land Commission from tenant purchasers under Clause 3; and how many of these have been re-sold to fresh purchasers, and at what price?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Land Commissioners report that under the powers referred to in the first paragraph of the question, 19,817 acres have been so purchased, the purchase money being £152,117, which also represents the amount for which the lands were re-sold by them. The Commissioners do not possess any portion of the holdings. As regards the inquiries in the two concluding paragraphs, the hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. The Land Commissioners do not resume possession of holdings from tenant purchasers. If, however, there be default in the payment of instalments for a holding, it is put up for sale by the Commissioners, subject to the future instalments payable in respect of the original purchase-money. Since the passing of the Act in 1885, loans have been issued in upwards of 12,000 cases, and in 12 cases only has there been default in the payment of the instalments.
§ MR. J. MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last part of the question.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURUnder what I apprehend to be the conditions referred to by the hon. Gentleman the number re-sold of the 12 is nine, and three are still unsold.