§ MR. WILLIAM O'BRIEN (Cork)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the case that since the publication of the new Treasury Regulations any further purchase agreements will be subject to the fact that only a bonus of 3 per cent. will be available unless and until the new Irish Land Bill is passed into law; and can he say whether in any future agreements, pending the passing of fresh legislation, tenant purchasers will have to pay the increased interest of 3 per cent. now proposed, or will they only be liable for payment of the old rate of 2¾ per cent.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The Answer to the second part is that, pending the passing of fresh legislation, there is no power to make the rate of interest 3 per cent. or any 1053 rate different from the old rate of 2¾ per cent.