§ Mr. FIELDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state when the recommendations made by the Forestry Commission respecting Ireland will be carried into effect; whether a large sum has been advanced to carry out reafforestation in England; and whether he will consider the possibility of appropriating the amount of quit and Crown 582W rents collected in Ireland at once for this purpose?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs the result of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Forestry a sum of £6,000 has been provided in the Estimates for the current year, which have been laid before Parliament to enable the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction to purchase, by means of annuities under the Land Purchase Acts, suitable areas of woodland and of lands adapted for forestry comprised in estates which are being sold under those Acts. Under this arrangement the Department are in negotiation with the Estates Commissioners with a view to purchase in the more urgent cases. The Irish Office have no means of knowing what money, if any, has been provided for reafforestation in England. If the hon. Member wishes for information on the subject I would suggest that he should apply to the Minister concerned. As regards Crown and quit rents, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on the same subject on 10th April, 1906, namely, that any question of planting in Ireland would have to be considered on its merits without regard to the Crown land revenues.