MR. PATRICK O'BRIENOn behalf of the hon. Member for the St. Patrick Division of Dublin, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, will he explain how it is that now, three years after the passing of the Land Act of 1896, complete Returns of the land rental and encumbrances to which the fortieth section applies have not been presented to the House as required by that Act; whether he could see his way to at once present to the 87 House a portion of the Return, which has been in course of preparation during the past year, in order to expedite the work of solicitors and tenants entitled to purchase; and whether he would order an inquiry into the causes which have delayed Returns for three years which, according to the Act, ought to have been presented to the House at least two years ago.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension. Neither the Land Law Act of 1896, nor the Rules made in pursuance of Section 40 of the Act, require that the Returns in question shall be presented to Parliament. As regards the second and third paragraphs, I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member's previous question of Monday last on the subject.