§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware of the number of labourers in Ireland suffering loss and inconvenience by delay in putting schemes for cottages and plots in operation; if he will ascertain how many such schemes lodged with the Local Government Board in 1907 and 1908, respectively, are still in suspense, and the aggregate number of labourers' families left without the homes intended for them; what is the general cause of this established Department, with an increased staff, falling in arrear with its work; and when is it expected that all approved schemes will be in operation?
§ Mr. CHERRYI have no means of obtaining the statistics asked for by the hon. Member, but I can assure him that he is mistaken in supposing that the Local Government Board have suspended any schemes for labourers' cottages and plots, or have allowed the work under the Labourers Acts to fall into arrear. On the contrary, it is their practice to expedite every scheme so far as the circumstances of the case will permit.
§ Mr. GINNELLIs it not the fact that a large number of claims are at present in suspense owing to the regulations imposed by the Local Government Board, and can the right hon. Gentleman say how many?
§ Mr. CHERRYI do not think that is the case. I think the cause of the delay is through that of the district councils in not 365 carrying out these schemes. There are delays of various kinds, some legal and some agricultural, but, so far as I know, the regulations of the Local Government Board tend to expedite the claims in every possible way.