§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)I beg to ask the Prime Minister if he will state when the amending Land Bill for Ireland, promised in the King's Speech, will be introduced; and whether that Bill will deal with the three questions of general amendment of the law, the question of congestion, and the finance of the Land Act of 1903.
§ The following Questions on the same subject also appeared on the Paper:—
§ MR. WILLIAM O'BRIEN (Cork)To ask the Prime Minister if he can relieve the suspense in the West of Ireland by stating definitely whether the Government intend to press the Bill for the 1239 relief of congestion through the House of Commons this session.
MR. WILLIAM O'BEIENTo ask the Prime Minister whether facilities will be given for the prompt discussion of the Government's promised proposals with respect to land purchase finances.
§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)To ask the Prime Minister whether he can now state when the proposals of the Government with regard to Irish Land Act finance will be laid before the House.
§ MR. ASQUITHMy right hon. friend the Chief Secretary will at an early date, probably on Monday, 23rd November, introduce a Bill dealing with land purchase finance, the relief of congestion in the West of Ireland, and the Amendment of the Land Laws. Until he has an opportunity of doing this, the Government after full consideration, think that it would be premature and inexpedient to explain their proposals as to any single one—such, for instance, as land purchase finance—of the several important matters with which the Bill will deal, or as to other matters closely connected with the subject. But it is perhaps desirable that I should say that the statement of my right hon. friend will show that a revision in regard to future transactions of the existing financial arrangements under the Land Purchase Act, 1903, is contemplated as from 1st November last. In reply to the hon. Member for Cork, I may say that if the proposals of the Government are fortunate enough to meet with general approval, both in this House and elsewhere, it is at least possible that the Bill may become law this session.
§ MR. WILLIAM O'BRIENasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he did or did not adopt the statement of a Member of the Government that it was impossible for any Bill dealing with congestion to pass through either House of Parliament this session.
§ MR. ASQUITHMy attention has not been called to that statement, and I would only repeat what I have said, that "if the proposals of the Government are fortunate 1240 enough to meet with general approval," I see no reason why they should not be passed.
§ MR. WILLIAM O'BRIENAm I to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's last Answer that the Government have not quite abandoned the hope of bringing about a settlement of this question by the same method of friendly agreement by which the Act of 1903 was passed?
§ MR. ASQUITHI have certainly not abandoned hope.
§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGasked whether they were to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's Answer that they were to have no further statement.
§ MR. ASQUITHI have made the whole of the statement I am in a position to make to-day.
§ MR. GINNELL (Westmeath, N.)asked, with reference to the expression "congestion in the West of Ireland," whether, seeing that the same problem existed elsewhere, the right hon. Gentleman thought it fair or prudent to leave the landless people of the other parts of Ireland to their own resources.
§ MR. ASQUITHWhen I spoke of congestion in the West I was referring to the Report of Lord Dudley's Commission and to the ground covered by it.