§ MR. PARNELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now state what arrangements the Treasury will make for advancing money temporarily for the erection of labourers' dwellings in Ireland, pending the allocation for that purpose of the funds provided in the Land Purchase Bill?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Treasury have not communicated their views to me on the subject. I think the hon. Gentleman will see that there would be considerable difficulty in advancing money for the purpose indicated out of the funds which are already mortgaged for land purchase in Ireland. As the money is already ear-marked for this purpose, the Government cannot make advances without diminishing the security, thereby pro tanto diminishing the amount available in any county for the purpose of carrying out the purchase of laud.