§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the protests of Irish local governing bodies against liability for arrears of annuities under the Land Act of 1903; and, seeing that the annuities in default comprise arrears of nominal rents which have never been regularly paid, and are in the nature of bad debts, whether he will endeavour, in connection with any amending legislation, to have the rates relieved of this liability?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThere is no intention of relieving the Guarantee Fund of charges in connection with arrears of annuities.