MR. J. DEVIANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state by whose authority some sixteen men who have been earning their living by lifting sand on the Whiteabbey foreshore of Belfast Lough have been forbidden to do so in future; whether he is aware that the consequence of this prohibition is that these men and their wives and families have been reduced to a condition of starvation; and whether he will consider the advisability of taking action in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) As the foreshore referred to is under the management partly of the Board of Trade and partly of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests my right hon. friend has requested me to answer this Question. Complaints were made to the Board of Trade that injury to the adjacent land was being caused by the removal of materials from the foreshore under their management, and they have accordingly given instructions to their local officer to warn those found removing such materials that no removal should take place without the permission of the Board. I have no information as regards the particular cases referred to by the hon. Member, but if any application for permission to remove materials is made to the Board of Trade they will consider whether it can be granted, and, if so, under what conditions.