THE EARL OF DONOUGHMOREMy Lords, I will not detain your Lordships with any observations in moving the Motion standing in my name. I understand that the noble Lord who represents the Irish Office cannot give the whole of the information asked for, but he is ready to grant a Return containing all the information available. Such being the case, I will content myself by simply moving for the Return.
Moved, that there be laid upon the Table a Return giving—(1) The number and names of the evicted tenants already restored to holdings under the Act of 1903, the date of their eviction, a statement as to whether they were or were not Plan of Campaign tenants, whether they were judicial tenants or not, and the amount of arrears when they were evicted. (2) The number of those cases reported upon in which the applicant was considered suitable, and the number of such cases in which the Estate commissioners heard 1560 evidence or acted on information other than that contained in the reports of their inspectors. (3) Of the 1,259 cases mentioned in paragraph 23 of the Estates Commissioners' Report on Evicted Tenants, dated 11th June, 1907, how many of the tenants now in possession of the holding from which the applicants have been evicted have been in possession for five, ten, and twenty years respectively—(The Earl of Donouyhmore.)
LORD DENMANMy Lords, I am glad to be able to give the noble Earl some, at all events, of the information for which he asks, or to promise to obtain it for him. With regard to the first paragraph, I can give him all the information down to the words "campaign tenants." When it comes to the question of judicial tenants there would be some difficulty, I understand, in obtaining information. It would entail prolonged research among the fair rent file and prolonged investigation in the Land Commission Court, and even if that investigation were undertaken it might not be conclusive, because judicial rents have been fixed in the names of persons other than those who have been evicted. With regard to the amount of arrears when they were evicted, that also would be a matter of some difficulty, because it would be necessary to communicate with the landlord in each particular case, and this would entail a good deal of correspondence and delay. As to paragraph 2—the number of those cases reported upon in which the applicant was considered suitable, that is given in the table of the special Report of the Estates Commissioners, and since the time they signed that Report there have been some 210 cases. The cases examined numbered 744, to which 210 have to be added. As to the latter part of paragraph 2, I think the noble Earl is under some slight misapprehension with regard to the Estates Commissioners hearing evidence. The Estates Commissioners did not take oral evidence on these matters. I was prepared to go rather into detail as to the manner in which they do obtain their evidence, but I think it would be for the convenience of the House that I should merely say that they act on the regulations of the Lord-Lieutenant supplemented by a memorandum for the guidance of assistant inspectors which has not been laid before Parliament, but which, if noble Lords 1561 opposite desire, I will be glad to lay on the Table of the House. Then, with regard to the 1,259 cases mentioned in Paragraph 23 of the Estates Commissioners' Report on Evicted Tenants, the noble Earl asks how many of the tenants now in possession of the holdings from which the applicants had been evicted had been in possession for certain period of years. The Estates Commissioners are unable to furnish that information because they only have the data as to when people were evicted. They have not information, or they are not able to obtain it, as to how long the present occupiers have been in occupation of the holdings. I should like to explain that it may possibly take some weeks to obtain the information I have promised to give, and I would only say, in conclusion, that it is not due to secrecy or reticence that we cannot give all the information desired, but because the information is not available, or could not be obtained without involving extra work on the part of the Estates Commissioners.
§ *THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEI am sure the noble Lord realises the great value of this information in its bearing on the Evicted Tenants Bill now on its way through Parliament, and I merely rise to appeal to him to expedite as much as possible the production of this return.
LORD DENMANI will communicate with the Estates Commissioners and give as much information as is possible before the Evicted Tenants Bill reaches the House.
§ The EARL OF DONOUGHMORE thereupon withdrew his Motion and moved it with the limitations indicated by Lord Denman.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Moved, that there be laid before the House a return giving—(1) The number and names of the evicted tenants already, restored to holdings under the Act of 1903, the date of their eviction, a statement as to whether they were or were not plan of campaign tenants; (2) The number of those cases reported upon in which the applicant was considered suitable—(The Earl of Donoughmore)—agreed to, and ordered accordingly.
§ House adjourned at quarter past Seven o'clock, till to-morrow, half-past ten o'clock