HC Deb 01 April 1909 vol 3 cc475-7
Mr. MURNAGHAN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he was aware that Mr. Bryce, speaking for the Government on 28th May, 1906, stated that loans up to the amount of four and a quarter millions were to be made to the rural district councils of Ireland for the purpose of erecting labourers' cottages and providing them with plots of land repayable in 68J years by an annuity of 3J per cent, covering interest and annuity; was he aware that at the present time rural councils were engaged in the preparation of schemes in the belief that until the four and a quarter millions had been advanced the terms would remain as stated by the late Chief Secretary and enacted by Parliament; and would he state if the increased rate proposed in the new Land Bill was to apply to schemes now being formulated or to schemes after the four and a quarter millions had been loaned?

Mr. BIRRELL

My predecessor's statement referred to Section 16 of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906, which provides that advances there-under shall be repayable in like manner as advances under the Land Purchase Acts. District councils have no reason to expect more favourable terms than those granted to purchasers under the Land Acts, and Clause 10 of the Land Bill provides that the increased rate of repayment contemplated by the Bill shall apply to all advances under the Labourers Act which may be made after the Bill becomes law.

Mr. MURNAGHAN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that rural councils in Ireland were promised the sum of four millions and a quarter to be applied to the building of a stated number of cottages for agricultural labourers, and is it the intention now to alter in the new Land Bill the terms so specifically promised?

Mr. BIRRELL

The promise was that that sum of money should be advanced under the Land Purchase Act for the time being. Of course, the subject is a matter for discussion when the Bill comes on in Committee as to whether it is a fair and reasonable thing that the new arrangement should apply to that as well as to other matters, but the 4¼ millions is to be raised in the same manner as the money under the Land Purchase Act.

Mr. MOORE

Has the right hon. Gentleman received a resolution on this subject from the Ballymoney Rural Council, stating that the proposals of the Government will absolutely terminate building operations in their district?

Mr. BIRRELL

I cannot recollect receiving that particular resolution, but I have no doubt whatever that the proposals of the Bill are unpopular in the quarter referred to.

Mr. KILBRIDE

How many cottages have been built in Armagh under the Labourers Act?