§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what are the amounts still held by the Purchase Commissioners for "the Fifth" Guarantees retained by them in the case of the sales of the London Companies' estates in Deny; and can any hope be held out that the Government will introduce Amendments in the Purchase Bill to prevent these amounts being paid over to the companies until the question of the liability of these bodies to the trusts for religion and education in Ireland, imposed by their charters, has been settled?
MR, A. J. BALFOURThe Land Commissioners report that the guarantee deposits held by them to the credit of the London Companies in respect of sales on their estates are as follows:—Drapers' Company, £19,156; Salters' Company, £46,418; Skinners' Company, £26,884; Fishmongers' Company, (including £237 lodged by the purchasers), £24,174. I hardly think an Amendment in the Purchase of Land Bill of the nature suggested by the hon. and learned Member is necessary, inasmuch as under the Ashbourne Act the question of paying over these guarantee deposits will not arise for some 20 years after the date of purchase.