§ 22. Mr. SHAKESPEAREasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Irish Grants Committee can and have made any advances to persons still resident in Ireland against claims or awards for compensation for damage to property or personal injury; and, if so, how many persons have applied for such advances and how many have been assisted?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI am glad to have this opportunity of correcting a misapprehension created by my answer last Monday to a supplementary question put by the right hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, as will be seen from the letter from my Noble Friend the Chairman of the Committee in this morning's Press. As regards the second part, no distinction is made in the Committee records between advances to persons resident in Ireland or resident elsewhere. The ex gratia grants or loans without security made since 1st April amount to £9,000 in respect of 927 persons, and in the last financial year £23,834 in respect of 3,200 persons. Advances on security of claims or awards for compensation now amount to £86,000 in respect of 326 persons since 1st April, and £42,774 in respect of 150 people in the last financial year.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREWill the hon. Gentleman tell the House whether, in assessing damage to lands, the Land Valuation Department is consulted?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThis is in Ireland.