HC Deb 08 July 1908 vol 191 cc1637-8
MR. WILLIAM O'BRIEN (Cork)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-

Acts. Total number of payers. Amount collectible. Number of payers and amount in arrear.
On 31st March, 1908. Amount. On 1st July, 1908. Amount.
£ £ £
(1) 1885–8 25,382 369,190 1,206 10,945 334 2,900
(2) 1891–6 46,837 517,943 1,213 10,350 374 3,920
(3) 1903 44,773 561,858 998 9,176 305 2,312
Totals 116,992 1,448,991 3,417 30,471 1,013 9,132

Note.—No. (1) Of the £10,945 due 31st March, 1908, £1,173 was due by 120 payers who owed more than one instalment. No. (2) Of the £10,350 due 31st March, 1908, £2,813 was due by

Lieutenant of Ireland whether the figures as to arrears of tenant-purchasers' annuities under the Purchase Act of 1903 and the previous purchase Acts cannot be procured without difficulty by the Estates Commissioners; is it a fact that the arrears under all the Acts are inconsiderable and that they are even less under the Act of 1903 than under the previous Acts; and whether, in view of the forthcoming measure to provide funds for the payment of the £40,000,000 worth of land now outstanding, he will publish these figures without delay, as the best proof that advances under this Act are not attended with any loss or danger to the Imperial taxpayer.

(Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The following table shows the total number of payers and amount collectible for year ending 1st November, 1907 (gale days under Nos. 1 and 2), and 1st December, 1907 (gale day under No. 3), of land purchase annuitants to whom advances were made under: (1) Purchase of Land (Ireland) Acts, 1885 to 1888; (2) Purchase of Land (Ireland) Acts, 1891 to 1896; and (3) Irish Land Act, 1903, together with the number and amount in arrear on 31st March, 1908 and on 1st July, 1908—

206 payers who owed more than one instalment. No. (3) Of the £9,176 due 31st March, 1908, £1,266 was due by 72 payers who owed more than one instalment.