§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Clause 9, Form P, under the Land Purchase Act, 1903, gives no protection to the tenant from the day he signs the agreement until the sale is sanctioned by the Land Commission; and that one or two years may elapse from the date of the agreement and the confirmation of the sale, the tenant in the meantime being liable for his old rent not withstanding his having agreed to pay interest to the Land Commission at £3 10s. per cent.; and whether, seeing that Clause 8 in Form F 1133 gives protection to the tenant between the date of his agreement to purchase and completion of sale, some similar protection can be given to the tenant in Clause 9 of Form P.
§ MR. WALTER LONGForm P is an undertaking signed by the tenant that he will purchase his holding from the Land Commission in case they purchase the estate of which it forms part. The signing of this undertaking does not alter the legal position of the tenant unless and until the Land Commission buy the estate. No ground, therefore, exists for making the arrangement suggested in the concluding query.
§ MR. FLAVINBut why the difference?
§ MR. WALTER LONGBecause in the one case there is a definite and in the other only a conditional agreement.
§ MR. FLAVINBut have not the Estates Commissioners a right to either accept or reject the agreement?
§ MR. WALTER LONGNo
§ MR. FLAVINI will ask the Attorney-General whether under Form F protection is given and inspection must take place?
§ MR. ATKINSONThe hon. Member is probably wrong, but I had better have notice.
§ MR. FLAVINWell, I am not paid a big salary like the right hon. Gentleman, but I am sure I am right.