HC Deb 29 April 1920 vol 128 cc1392-3
12. Mr. ARCHDALE

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how much land has been purchased in Ulster to date under the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act; and how many ex-soldiers have been settled on the land?

Mr. HENRY

The Local Government Board have made six schemes for the provision of cottages and plots for 157 ex-service men in Ulster. These schemes cannot be further considered until the expiration of the statutory period for lodging objections, and no land can be taken until the objections have been considered and the schemes either confirmed as they stand or modified to meet objections. Three further schemes are also being prepared. No land has yet been acquired in Ulster by the Estates Commissioners for the provision of holdings for ex-service men, the powers of the Commissioners being limited to the purchase of untenanted land, and of this class of land there is very little in Ulster. If my hon. Friend can furnish the Commissioners with particulars of any land in Ulster which can be acquired for division into holdings for ex-service men, the Commissioners will be pleased to consider their acquisition. In the division of untenanted lands acquired by the Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts in Ulster they have already provided for 13 ex-service men.