HC Deb 19 November 1908 vol 196 c1432
MR. LONSDALE

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Treasury have taken steps to ascertain the amount of the unexpended balance of the Land Purchase Aid Fund and the claims yet to be made upon it under the Irish Land Act, 1903; whether notice has yet been given of any proposed revision of the percentage as provided for under subsection (3) of Section 48 of that Act; and whether it is proposed by the new Land Bill to make the revision of the percentage retrospective.

MR. ASQUITH

I understand from my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. No notice has yet been given of any proposal to revise the rate of the bonus as provided for under subsection (3) of Section 48 of the Irish Land Act, 1903. The provisions of the new Land Bill will be fully explained by the Chief Secretary on Monday.

MR. LONSDALE

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to say whether purchase agreements made since 1st November will be liable to revision?

MR. ASQUITH

I think the hon. Gentleman had better wait until he hears the Chief Secretary's statement.