§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what is the outstanding amount now 1076 due for advances given for the purpose of planting for shelter; and how many loans have been applied for and sanctioned during the past two years respectively?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIt would be impossible without longer notice to state the amount outstanding at foot of advances made for planting for shelter. These advances are frequently combined with advances for other purposes, and it would be impossible, without numerous minute calculations which would occupy much time, to state the amount outstanding. The entire amount of advances sanctioned since such advances were authorised by Statute in I886 is £32,895. Three advances of the particular class referred to, amounting to £240, were sanctioned in the year ended 31 March, 1896, and five similar loans, amounting to £1,700, were sanctioned in the following year. The number of applications, if any, which did not proceed to sanction in the past two years cannot be stated at such short notice.