§ MR. GINNELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of land purchase annuitants sued by the Land Commission for arrears of annuities within the present year; the results of the proceedings; have the farms been offered for sale in all cases in which the amount of arrears has not been otherwise recovered; have bona fide farmers bought them subject to arrears and accruing annuities; and have the net losses in all cases been, or will they be, made good out of funds otherwise devoted to relief of Irish rates.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe annual Report of the Land Commission for the year ending 31st March, 1908, gives full particulars as to the payment of instalments by tenant purchasers, the number in arrears, and the proceedings taken to enforce payment whether by sale of the holdings or otherwise. The farms of defaulting annuitants are sold subject to the annuities, and the arrears due at the time of sale have, in all cases hitherto, been discharged out of the purchase money realised on such sale. There has been no final loss in respect of arrears in any case up to the present. If such loss should arise it would fall on the guarantee fund.