§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick's)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation for the purpose of securing town tenants in Ireland in their tenure and improvements, or whether he will have any inquiries made into the subject, or appoint a committee to report thereon?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe question of town holdings in Great Britain and Ireland was inquired into by a Select Committee of the House some years ago, and the Report of the Committee, together with the minutes of evidence taken before it, have been laid on the Table. [See Parliamentary Paper, No. 251, of the Session of 1889.] The question of legislation, or of further inquiry by a committee, or otherwise, are matters which could only be considered in their application to the United Kingdom as a whole, and I am not prepared either to introduce legislation dealing with Ireland alone or to recommend any further inquiries as suggested.