§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a resolution passed by the Armagh Rural District Council protesting against the action of the Treasury in using the Agricultural Grant to meet the deficiency caused by the working of the Land Purchase Act, and thereby withdrawing the grant which has been given in lieu of the portion of the poor rate formerly paid by the landlord, and urging the Government to appoint a committee of financial experts to consider as to the cause and report on the whole matter, and devise some means whereby the proposed great loss to the local rates shall be averted; and whether the Government have arrived at any conclusion as to methods by which future losses arising out of the issue of Irish Land Stock can be made good without making further demands upon Irish Local Government grants.
§ MR. BIRRELLI have received the resolution referred to. As the hon. Member is aware, the subject of Irish Land Purchase finance is shortly to be debated in this House, and it would not be convenient to anticipate the debate by making a statement on the matters referred to in the Question.