§ MR. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the increase in the number of loans from the Board of Works to farmers for the erection of farm buildings in recent years without a corresponding increase in the number of inspectors, although inspectors are now required to make three visits of inspection where formerly only two sufficed; and will he state the number of loans and inspectors fifteen, ten, and five years ago as compared with the number of loans and inspectors at present; and will he consider the advisability of improving the machinery of the Board of Works for dealing with this question.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. ELLIOT, Durham)Although these loans have for some years steadily increased in number, it has been found possible by means of improvements in system to cope with them without a proportionate increase in the number of inspectors.
§ The figures for which the hon. Member asks are as follows:—
| Year | No. of loans sanctioned. | Inspectors. |
| 1887–8 | 683 | 26 |
| 1892–3 | 733 | 16 |
| 1897–8 | 790 | 14 |
| 1902–3 | 1177 | 16 |
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)What time usually elapses between the first 540 application and the granting of these loans?
§ MR. ELLIOTI cannot say.