§ MR. AUSTIN (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of extending the provisions of the Small Houses (Acquisition of Ownership) Bill to the rural districts in Ireland, steps will be taken to empower the district councils to carry out such a measure.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)The meaning of this question is not quite clear. District councils are already empowed to carry out the provisions of the Act, and in November last the Local Government Board wrote to every county and district council explaining very fully the object of the measure and the powers of the council under it, as well as the procedure to be adopted in carrying it into operation. So far as the Board are at present aware, about forty district councils have adopted the provisions of the Act.