§ MR. KNOXI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the loans made by the National Debt Commissioners to the Irish Church Fund are repayable at the pleasure of the Commissioners entrusted with the control of the latter fund; or, if otherwise, then at what times they are repayable; in how many cases English Public Bodies, which had borrowed money from the National Debt Commissioners or the Public Works Loan Commissioners, have within the last five years borrowed money at lower interest in order to repay the loans; and whether he will insert a clause in the Finance Bill, or in the Local Loans Bill, enabling the Irish Land Commission to borrow at 3 per cent. on the security of the Church Fund a sufficient sum to pay off their debt to the National Debt Commissioners? I also beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the interest on the part of the Irish Church Fund, held for the purposes of the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Acts, is shortly to be reduced to 2¾ per cent.; and, if so, why the interest payable to Irish Commissioners is to be reduced, while that payable to the National Debt Commissioners is not to be reduced?
* SIR W.HARCOURTIn reply to both these questions, I think it would be most convenient if the hon. Member would discuss the matter personally with the officials of the Treasury. If the hon. Member will do this, he will be given full information.