§ DR. AMBROSETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any members of the Congested Districts Board ever inspected estates which were about to be or which have been purchased by the Board; if so, what are the names of the estates and what members of the Board inspected them; have any members of the Board ever interviewed the intending occupiers of new holdings under the Board, with a view to their fitness for such holdings; if so, who are the members; have any members of the Board ever visited the 704 residents of uneconomic holdings, for whose benefit the Congested Districts Act was passed; and, if so, what are the names of those members, and what localities have been visited by them.
§ (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) Members of the Congested Districts Board have frequently inspected estates purchased by them, but no records of such visits have been kept. It is not the practice of the Board to visit estates before purchasing them; when considering such purchases they have before them full reports and valuations prepared by the chief land inspector, who is assisted by other expert valuers in the Board's service. The Board have now under consideration the means whereby their valuations may harmonise with the valuations of the Estates Commissioners. It is not the practice of the Board to interview intending occupiers of new holdings, but when visiting estates which have been purchased the Board have at times visited occupiers of uneconomic buildings. No records of such visits have been kept.