Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether it is the intention of the Government to promote legislation with a view to so amend the Labourers Acts that occupiers of property under them may become owners on the same terms as tenant farmers under the Land Purchase Acts, and that local rates may thereby be relieved?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Government do not intend to introduce legislation of the nature indicated in the question.
§ Mr. CRUMLEYasked the Chief Secretary if he can state why it is that in Lisnaskea Union, county Fermanagh, a scheme for building labourers' cottages, under the Labourers Act of 1906, has not been proceeded with before this, although an inquiry was held in November, 1909, for the purpose of promoting a scheme; and whether any further action will be taken 1908 in the matter, as some of the labourers are at present residing in houses some of which have been condemned as entirely unfit for human habitation?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board sanctioned the requisite loan to carry out the scheme referred to on 15th March last, and the arbitrator lodged his award last June. The Board understand from the clerk of the rural district council that titles to the greater number of the plots authorised to be acquired have now been completed, and the council hope to invite tenders for fencing the plots at an early date.