§ SIR JOHN COLOMB (Great Yarmouth)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the annual cost of the branch of the Land Commission engaged in transactions relating to rent fixing, and what sum represents its capitalised value; 533 what is the approximate estimate of annual cost to be incurred by the creation of an Estates Commissioners branch of the Land Commission contemplated by the Land Bill; and what is the estimated capitalised value of such additional cost.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) It is not possible to dissever in the manner indicated the cost of the Judicial and other Commissioners, or of the legal and lay Assistant Commissioners and the various other officers employed on the staff of the Land Commission. When not engaged at fair rent work they are employed on land purchase or other work. Approximately, however, the proportion of the total cost of the Land Commission (taken at £142,000 per annum) which may be charged to fair rent transactions is about £95,000 per annum. It is impossible at present to estimate, even approximately, the cost of the new Department.