HC Deb 01 December 1890 vol 349 cc226-8
MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum of principal and interest, under the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Acts, 1885 and 1888, fell due for payment on 1st November last, and how much of this remains unpaid; and what arrears now exist of any instalments of principal and interest falling due for payment before 1st November, 1890?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Land Commissioners report that the sum of principal and interest under the Purchase of Land Acts, 1885 and 1888, which fell due for payment on November 1 last was £109,094. Of this the Commissioners received during the first 27 days of November £79,860, leaving in course of collection £29,234. The instalments of principal and interest which fell due before November 1, 1890, amounted to £409,698. Of this the Commissioners have received £408,276, leaving in course of collection £1,422.

MR. J. E. ELLIS

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland when the Report of the Land Commission for the year ending August, 1890, will be distributed?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Report of the Irish Land Commission for the year ending 21st of August, 1890, is being laid on the Table to-day.

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE (Bradford, Central)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of holdings in which the Land Commission have refused to make advances under "The Land Purchase Act, 1885," and the amount of money applied for; and whether he can state in how many cases the ground of refusal was that the terms agreed upon were excessive, in the sense that there was no sufficient security for the advance of money by the State?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Land Commissioners report that up to the 31st of October last the total number of holdings on which the Commissioners refused to make the advances applied for was 3,460, the total amount applied for in such cases being £1,448,364. Advances, however, in 1,087 of these cases were subsequently sanctioned for sums amounting to £433,423, the original sum applied for in such cases being £517,988. Of the 3,460 cases refused, about 2,500 were refused on the ground that there was not sufficient security for the advance applied for.