§ Mr. DEVLINasked whether on 11th August, 1910, the Ballymoney Rural District Council formulated an improvement scheme for the erection of forty-four labourers' cottages, with half-acre plots attached, requiring the issue of a loan of £7,589; that the petition praying for the confirmation of the scheme was forwarded on 22nd September, 1910; that on 27th October, 1910, a resolution was adopted by the council requesting the Local Government Board to appoint an inspector to hold the necessary local inquiry; that on 11th November, 1910, the Local Government Board replied that, pending confirmation of the proposed further advance of £1,000,000 for the purposes of the lets, they thought it well, unless the council considered that there was any special urgency, to defer further action until the supplemental fund became available for 855 the new improvement scheme; that on 9th March, 1911, the council adopted a further resolution requesting the Local Government Board to hold the necessary local inquiry; that on 23rd March, 1911, the Local Government Board replied, stating that, pending the passing of the new Labourers' Bill, they did not consider it expedient to make arrangements for holding the inquiry; and whether, having regard to the demand for labourers' cottages in the district, and to the time which must elapse between the date of the holding of the inquiry and the final completion of the scheme, the necessary inquiry will be held at once, so that, when the Bill now before the House becomes law the scheme may be proceeded with and the cottages erected in the present year?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYThe facts are as stated. My right hon. Friend will consider the suggestion made in the last paragraph of the question, but the Local Government Board have hitherto considered that pending the passage of the proposed legislation it is inexpedient to hold inquiries into schemes which have been forwarded to them.