§ MR. J. TULLY (Leitrim, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury—(1) whether he is aware that the Board of Works, having refused a loan under the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881, to John Lynch, of Denier, South Leitrim, have retained a sum of 10s. which he sent them as a preliminary fee; and (2) whether, as the legal tribunals have, in the case of money-lenders, discountenanced the practice of retaining fees for preliminary expenses where no loan is granted, he will direct that this sum of 10s. be refunded to John Lynch, the applicant for the loan?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) OldhamThe statement in the first paragraph of the question is correct. When an applicant first applies for a loan he is sent a copy of the regulations under which the loans are issued, one of which requires him, in forwarding his memorial, "to transmit therewith 10s. to cover expenses in the event of the loan not being proceeded with." This charge never covers more than half the actual expenses incurred in making the preliminary inquiries; and, under the circumstances, I do not think it would be right to refund the amount.