§ MR. J. J. SHEE (Waterford, W.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, a reserve of £200,000 having been formed under the provisions of the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891, the Exchequer contribution of £40,000 annually has been, or is about to be, devoted to providing labourers' cottages under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts; and whether the county percentage paid from 1891 until its abolition by the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1896, has been, or is about to be, devoted to carrying out the Labourers (Ireland) Acts in accordance with the enactment contained in the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURWith the permission of my right hon. Friend I will reply to this Question. As regards the Exchequer contribution of £40,000 a year, the regulations respecting it, have been settled and the necessary steps are about to be taken with a view to the early distribution of the grant for the financial year ended yesterday. With 270 regard to the county percentage, the final certificate of Transfer to the Local Taxation (Ireland) account was received by the Irish Government on March 29th, and the Government is in communication with the Local Government Board with a view to its application to carrying out the Labourers Acts.
§ MR. SHEEI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether £10,000,000 of Guaranteed Land Stock have yet been issued under the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891; and, if so, whether the Treasury have availed themselves of the provision contained in section three of that Act to give notice that the Guaranteed Land Stock issued thereafter shall yield dividends only at the rate of 2½ per cent., so that the purchase annuities may be reduced as provided to £3 17s. 6d. per cent.?
§ * THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir. MICHAEL HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.Only £2,800,000 stock has at present been created.