§ MR. ROSSOn behalf of the hon. and learned Member for Dublin University, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state how much public money advanced by the Treasury in Ireland, under the Drainage and other Acts for the improvement of property, to tenants who have, since said advances, been evicted from their holdings between the 1st of May, 1879, and the present date at present remains unpaid?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTIt is assumed that the reference of the hon. and learned Member is to loans to tenants in Ireland who have been evicted from their holdings between May 1, 1879, and the present date remaining unpaid under the Land Improvement Acts, often described as the Drainage Acts, and the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881; and it is estimated that the amount outstanding in respect of such advances under these Acts as are alluded to in the question is about £20,000.
§ MR. ROSSIf the Evicted Tenants Bill should become law will these tenants share in its benefits?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTThat is a question I cannot answer off-hand.