48. Colonel NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that a British Act of Parliament, setting aside a fund of £1,500,000 for the construction 1285 of houses for ex-service men in Ireland, and establishing a trust for the administration of the fund, is almost totally inoperative; that the Government of the Irish.Free State has failed to nominate a representative on the trust; and that in certain cases the fund is being used to provide houses and holdings for men who did no service in the Great War; and, seeing that they money is being found by the British taxpayer, what action does he propose to take?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)I have been asked to reply. The provision to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, namely, Section 3 of the Irish Free State (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1922, is expressly stated to be inoperative until the legislation necessary to carry it into effect has been passed by both Irish Parliaments. Neither Parliament has yet passed the necessary legislation, but a Bill has been introduced into the Parliament of Northern Ireland, and I hope that a similar Bill will shortly be introduced into the Parliament of the Free State. Meanwhile, the work which had been begun under the provisions of Section 4 of the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act, 1919, is being continued without interruption. I have no information to the effect suggested in the third part of the question.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI will gladly receive it.