IRISH LAND COMMISSION—RETURN OF EXPENSES. (Hansard, 26 June 1900)

THE EARL OF MAYO
My Lords, I beg to move for a Return showing the total expenses of the Irish Land Commission for each of the five years ended 31st March, 1896, to 1900. The Irish Land Commission exercises a very important part in our lives in Ireland, and also in the lives of our tenants. I know of no public document readily accessible which gives this Return, and therefore I hope there will be no objection to granting it.

§ THE EARL OF DENBIGH
My Lords, the information which the noble Earl asks for is already given, to a great extent, in the annual Appropriation Account which is presented to Parliament every year, the last of which is to 31st March, 1899. That for 1899–1900 will 1059 be presented in due course, but I may tell the noble Lord that the net expenditure for that year was, approximately, £125,000. There are one or two exceptions, however, in that the salaries of the Chief Commissioners are not shown in the Appropriation Account. They are charged to the Consolidated Fund, and amount to about £14,000. In addition to the amounts shown in the Appropriation Account there are certain items for office accommodation, stationery, printing, etc., the details of which will be found set forth in the annual Estimate for the Land Commission. I think if the noble Earl will look up those documents he will get all the, information he requires.

THE EARL OF MAYO
May I ask the noble Earl if those different items might be consolidated? This would give us the Return in a very simple form.

§ THE EARL OF DENBIGH
I will inquire of the Irish Office, but the answer I have given to the noble Earl was the answer which I obtained to his question.

THE EARL OF MAYO
The items are all mixed up at present, and if they were consolidated it would save us a great deal of trouble.

§ THE EARL OF DENBIGH
I will inquire.