§ 9. Mr. WATTasked the Chief Secretary the estimate of his Department of the average cost per week of the land, including legal expenses of the transfer, of the labourers' cottages erected in Ireland during the five years 1908–12 or other convenient period?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs land for labourers' cottages in Ireland is usually bought out and not taken on lease at a yearly rent, it would be almost impossible to give a trustworthy estimate of the average cost per week of the items referred to by the hon. Member. The purchase price of the land and the legal expenses vary considerably in different districts. In some cases it is estimated that the land and the legal expenses only constitute 13¾ per cent. of the total cost, while in others it is as high as 23¾ per cent.
§ Mr. WATTDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree with one of his colleagues that the cost of the land is never more than a halfpenny per week?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI should be very sorry to agree or disagree with any of my colleagues, or with any hon. Gentleman on figures without a long opportunity of considering them.
§ Mr. RAFFANWill the right hon. Gentleman give us the average?
§ Mr. BIRRELLWhat of?
§ Mr. RAFFANOf the cost per week?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe hon. Gentleman knows it is a little difficult to give the average cost per week when you give a lump sum for the land and you have to add to that legal expenses, which are unfortunately very great. It would be only the roughest shot if I made a guess.