§ MR. NIELD (Middlesex, Ealing)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether applications lodged as far back as 1st July, 1905, for the sale of properties to tenants under The Land Purchase Act, 1903, are still undealt with and have not been declared; and whether he will take some steps to ensure a decision being announced at an early date by the Commissioners and thus prevent the loss of income which both landlords and tenants are now suffering.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the fact is as stated in the first part of the Question. All applications are dealt with in order of priority of lodgment, as laid down in the regulations. Interest in lieu of rent is collected by the Land Commission and paid to vendors pending the making of the advances.