§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the exact terms under which the Crown and quit rents were levied in Ireland, and to what purpose the money was to be applied; whether he can state the total amount so realised and how it has been expended
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The quit, etc., rents payable to the Crown in Ireland are reserved in the ancient grants of lands made by the Crown. They are collected by the Commissioners of His Majesty's Woods under the Crown Lands Acts. The purchase moneys for quit, etc., rents sold have been merged in the capital of the Crown Land Revenues of the United Kingdom, and the surplus income has been annually paid into the Imperial Exchequer. The last Return, made to the House of Lords, of purchase moneys received was for eight years up to March 31st, 1905, and the amount was £118,725 12s. 3d. The accounts for the subsequent year are not yet complete. The quit, etc., rents now payable to the Crown amount to about £32,700 per annum.