§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSON (Northumberland, Tyneside)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of estates that have been sold under the recent Land Act and their total value; the number of cases in which the mineral and sporting rights were retained by the landlords; the number in process of negotiation; and the number of landlords who have refused to sell on any terms; and whether the Government contemplate legislative measures making possible the compelling of such landlords to sell when necessary for the relief of tenants of non-economic holdings.
MR. BRYCEI beg to refer my hon. friend to the last annual Report of the Estates Commissioners, dated 26th July, which contains full information upon the subject of the earlier parts of this Question. The Commissioners have no information as to the number of cases in which negotiations for sale may be in progress, nor have they information as to the number of landlords who have refused to sell on any terms; but as to the latter they would conjecture that there are few, if any, such landlords. In reply to the concluding part of the Question, I would remind my hon. friend that a Royal Commission upon congestion in Ireland is at present sitting, and until the Commission has reported it will not be possible to make any statement as to legislation. I cannot say when the Report is likely to be presented.