Captain CRAIGasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Irish Land Trust proposes to acquire land at Finaghy, a residential suburb of Belfast, for the purpose of building thereon houses for ex-soldiers, and that the ratepayers of Finaghy allege that the erection of this class of house in the vicinity will interfere with the amenities of the district and will reduce the value of land in the neighbourhood; that the ratepayers' association has indicated good alternative sites, where roads and sewers are already made, which can be purchased for less than the site selected by the Land Trust; and whether he will request the Land Trust to reconsider the matter and to leave the selection of the site to some independent individual to be appointed by them and by the Finaghy Ratepayers' Association?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust have1446W reconsidered this matter in view of the objections to the proposed site. Three alternative sites suggested by the Ratepayers' Association were inspected by the trustees in person and rejected as unsuitable. Negotiations for the purchase of the land have now been completed, except the frontage on the main road, which is not to be included in the purchase, and it is now too late to reopen the question.