HC Deb 18 February 1898 vol 53 cc1036-7
MR. M'CARTAN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of fair rent appeals disposed of by the Chief Land Commission at its sitting in Belfast in November last, and the number of cases in which the judicial rents fixed by the Sub-Commissioners were reduced, confirmed, and increased respectively, and also the names of the Chief Commissioners who formed the Court?

MR. M'CARTAN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the names of the chief Land Commissioners who held the sitting at Belfast in December last; and if he will state the number of cases in which the judicial rents of the Sub-Commissioners were reduced and increased respectively?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

These Questions in the name of the same hon. Member must be taken together. The hon. Member in putting these Questions as to the names of the Commissioners is obviously asking for information which is already in his possession. I cannot interpret the Questions otherwise than as being intended to convey a reflection upon the impartiality of certain Commissioners, and, this being so, I must respectfully decline to answer the Questions.