§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many rural councils in Ireland had schemes under the Labourers Acts held up because of money shortage since the outbreak of war; if he is aware that in many cases the necessary inquiries were held and the inspector's report as to who were eligible for cottages and plots of land furnished to the local authority; and if he will, in the interests of the poor and for the sake of producing more food, arrange that in all cases where the inspectors' reports have been submitted the allotments should be handed over to those who passed the inquiry, by an arrangement between the owners and occupiers and the local authority, by the 1114W Local Government Board guaranteeing to the former the compensation which they would be entitled to under the Labourers Acts, as such a move would be a boon to the poor and, in order to have the land ready for the spring season, immediate stops should be taken?
§ Mr. SAMUELSForty-two rural district councils in Ireland have had schemes under the Labourers Acts held up since the outbreak of the War. In seven cases inquiries have been held. The Local Government Board have no power to give any such guarantee as that mentioned in the question.