§ 4. Mr. GINNELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what date the normal financial provision ceased to be made for land purchase in Ireland; if not now wholly stopped, what provision is available; whether cash or stock; at what rate of progress and to what amount land purchase may continue; and whether he has ascertained the amount required to finance existing purchase agreements which await only the advance to the vendor and the vesting in the purchaser?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)The financial provision for Irish Land Purchase has not yet been curtailed, and advances are being made both in cash and in stock as required.
§ 16. Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the year in which the purchase agreements were signed in the case of the latest estate dealt with this year by advance of price and vesting of holdings in each of the three categories into which the Estates Commissioners have divided for the purposes of priority estates before them for sale?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The years are 1907 in the case of Estates on the Principal Register of Direct Sales (all cash), and 1908 in respect of cases on the Subsidiary Registers (part money, part stock) and (all stock).
§ 18. Mr. GINNELLasked how many purchase agreements, including consents to purchase on estates for sale to the Estates Commissioners, awaited completion in the hands of the Commissioners on 31st March, 1915, and the approximate amount of cash and stock that would be required to complete them all; and what those quasi-purchasers and tenants who have got no offer of sale, respectively, are to understand is the prospect for completion of land purchase?
§ Mr. BIRRELLOn the 31st March last there were 77,441 agreements in direct sales lodged, in which the purchase money thereof had not yet been advanced under 12 the Land Purchase Acts, made up as follows:—
and proceedings were pending on that date for sale to the Estates Commissioners of lands representing approximately 3,120 holdings, and an estimated purchase money of £875,652, of which £369,463 would be payable in cash and the balance in 3 per cent. stock. With regard to the last part of the question, I cannot give the hon. Member further information than that sales pending under the Land Purchase Acts are dealt with in accordance with the Priority Regulations made under Section 23 (8) of the Act of 1903 and Section 4 of the Act of 1909.
All cash £17,750,183 Half stock, half cash 1,844,425 All stock (2¾ per cent.) 286,143 All Stock (3 per cent.) 1,947,621
§ Mr. GINNELLIs Land Purchase being financed as required by the Estates Commissioners?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Chancellor of the Exchequer has answered that. Up to the present no difference whatsoever has been made in the financial arrangements of the Land Purchase Acts.
§ 20. Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, in regard to the Reeves estate, West Clare, the Congested Districts Board has for some years suspended operations, although but little has remained to dispose of the whole business; and whether steps will be taken to deal with this property without further delay?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are proceeding with the sale of this estate to the tenants, and some sale agreements have recently been signed. All delay will be avoided as far as possible.
§ 21. Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that in West Clare discontent is general with regard to the operations of the Congested Districts Board, and what land is with held from cultivation which, if handed over to the tenants, might produce cereals sufficient to alleviate the distress which is being felt among the agricultural classes there; and whether he will bring to a conclusion the negotiations with regard to the 13 Treanmana farm of the estate of the late General Kelly-Kenny, and settle the tenants on the land?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs was stated by my right hon. Friend the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, in answer to my hon. Friend's question of the 18th February last, we are aware that there is in West Clare and elsewhere a strong desire that the work of the Congested Districts Board should proceed at a quicker pace than present financial conditions allow, but in the face of those conditions I am satisfied that there is no avoidable delay in the Board's operations. The estate, to which my hon. Friend calls special attention is not yet vested in the Board and they cannot, therefore, proceed with the work of rearrangement and redistribution.
§ Mr. BIRRELLI cannot answer that.