THE EARL OF DONOUGHMOREMy Lords, I rise, in accordance with the notice standing in my name on the Paper, to ask His Majesty's Government for the following information respecting claims upon and payments out of the Irish Land Purchase Fund as at 31st May, 1908: (1) What was the total amount of the applications for advances and other claims upon the fund. (2) How much had been paid out of the Fund: (a) Into the hank to await clearing of title, etc.; (b) Into the Land Judge's Court; (c) To the Congested Districts Board. (3) How much had been allocated and distributed to the parties entitled to receive same. I desire to further ask His Majesty's Government: (4) What was the amount of guaranteed 2¾ per cent. stock issued under the Irish Land Act, 1903, down to 31st May, 1908. (5) What was the amount of the cash obtained for same. (6) What was the amount of such stock and cash respectively allotted to the Land Purchase Aid ("Bonus") Fund. (7) What was the amount standing to credit of the Irish Land Purchase Fund at 31st May, 1908, and available towards meeting outstanding and future applications for advances and other claims upon the fund. (8) Does the figure of £175,450, in paragraph 45 of the Report of the Departmental Committee of the Treasury [Cd. 4005.]. include the estimated cost of administering the Irish "Fair Rent" Acts in 1907–1908; if not, how much should be added to the estimate to include the cost of administering those Acts.
LORD DENMANMy Lords, I can give the noble Earl most, if not all, of the information he desires up to 31st May, 1908. The answers to his Questions are—(1) The amount of applications for advances and the estimated amounts required for the purchase of estates and land were altogether £62,742,660. (2) (a) The total amount, in respect of advances made by the Estates Commissioners, paid out of the fund into bank to await distribution by a Judicial Commissioner (clearing of title) was £20,404,257; (b) the amount paid under Section 7 of the Act of 1903 into the Land Judge's Court was £972,422; 24 (c) for purchases by the Congested Districts Board under Sections 72 and 79, the sum of £1,109,819 was advanced; (2) for estates purchased by the Congested Districts Board from the Land Judge, the sum of £94,489 was advanced. (3) The sum of £19,088,158 has been distributed by a Judicial Commissioner; and, in addition, sums amounting to £2,496,500 have been advanced, some of which is distributable by the Land Judge, some by a Land Commissioner other than the Judicial Commissioner, and some does not require an order for distribution. (4) The amount of guaranteed 2¾ per cent. stock issued to 31st May was £28,201,444. (5) This amount produced in cash £24,862,297. (6) The amount of stock allotted to the Land Purchase Aid Fund was £2,651,440, equivalent to £2,332,760 cash. (7) Since 18th May, the cash required for advances has been supplied by temporary borrowings from the Commissioners for the reduction of the National Debt from time to time as the money is needed. On 31st May the amount thus borrowed for the Land Purchase Fund amounted to £240,000. (8) The figure £175,450, quoted from Paragraph 45 of the Committee's Report, is the total estimated cost of the Land Commission for the year 1907–1908 (less the charge for bonus and the extra receipts), and therefore includes the estimated cost of administering the Fair Rent Acts. I hope that gives the noble Earl most of the information he requires.
THE EARL OF DONOUGHMOREI am very much obliged to the noble Lord, and I wish to thank him and the Irish Office for the trouble they have taken in getting out the figures so expeditiously.