§ Mr. HARNEYasked the Home Secretary whether the Northern Ireland Land Purchase Commission has been using the powers vested in them by Section 25 of the Land Act, 1925, for the enlargement of small holdings; and can he say how many holdings of 30 acres or less have been dealt with under the Act without the enlargement provided for?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSFifty-six parcels of untenanted land have been or are being acquired by the Commission for the purposes of Section 25 of the Act; of these 44 are for the enlargement of holdings under 30 acres. The lands available for the purposes of the Section are very limited and such lands as have been considered by the Commission in 723W that connection have in general been found to be unsuitable. Nearly 4,500 holdings have been vested in the Commission, and I am afraid the examination of the records for the purpose of dividing these into holdings above and below 30 acres would involve much labour, which, in view of the pressure of work on the Commission, I am reluctant to ask them to undertake.