HC Deb 26 June 1906 vol 159 cc794-5
MR. VINCENT KENNEDY

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state how many fair rent appeals are pending before the Land Commission; how many of these appeals are from the Sub-Commission and the county court respectively; how many of these appeals have been lodged by the tenant to June 1st, 1906; and how many by the landlord, excluding cases of cross appeal.

MR. BRYCE

The Land Commission inform me that on June 1st, 1906, the number of fair rent appeals pending before them was 9,264, of which 8,503 were cases from sub-commissions, and 761 from county courts. It would not, I am informed, be possible to state how many of these appeals were lodged by the tenant and landlord, respectively, without an examination of the notice of appeal in each of the 9,264 cases, and this would take a very considerable time.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL

Can the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that the hearing of these appeals will be expedited?

MR. BRYCE

I will do my best, but the matter is not under my control.

MR. FLAVIN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of these appeals were entered four or five years ago, and are not yet listed for hearing?

MR. BRYCE

I have no information as to that.

MR. FLAVIN

I have personal knowledge of it.