§ 83. Mr. DANIEL BOYLEasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the application of the Ballina Urban District Council, county Mayo, for a loan of £8,150, under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, was sanctioned a considerable time ago, the Local Government Board recommending a first instalment of £2,500 to be advanced some months ago; and, seeing that repeated applications have since been made by the urban council for this payment without result, thus preventing the council entering into possession of the site and the contractor being ready to proceed with building operations in the most suitable period of the year, and delaying the provision of this urgently needed housing accommodation, will he state the cause of this delay and when the urban council may expect payment of the first instalment?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe sanction of the Local Government Board only relates to the power of the local authority to borrow 536 money. The application of the urban district council for a loan is now under the consideration of the Treasury, which requires to be satisfied as to the security for the punctual repayment of the principal and interest of the loan, and correspondence is proceeding on this point.