§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the number of evicted farms that have been taken since the date of the Mathew Commission Report?
MR. J. MORLEYIn replying to a question of the hon. Member for South Hunts on April 28 of last year on the subject of evicted farm statistics, I stated that applications for such had on all previous occasions been refused by my predecessors, and that, having regard to this precedent, I was unable to supply the information for which he applied. I regret, therefore, that I cannot now see any sufficient reason for altering the opinion which I entertained last year.
§ MR. CARSON (Dublin University)Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to give the House some information of this sort before we are asked to discuss the Evicted Tenants Bill?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLThis question is not an inquiry as to any specific evicted farm. I want to know how many of these farms have been taken since the sitting of the Mathew Commission? The particulars were given in the Report of the Commission, and what I desire to know is what progress has been made since?
MR. J. MORLEYI am not sure whether I can give the information, but I will consider the matter. With regard to the question of the hon. and learned Member for Dublin University, I have some figures dealing with the subject, which I propose submitting to the House when the Bill referred to is proceeded with.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLI am glad to hear that, otherwise it would be a case of debating in the dark.