§ Mr. BARNSTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, out of 39,241cottages built in 27W Ireland under the Irish Labourers Acts up to the 31st of March, 1912, nearly half were in arrear in their rent in spite of the fact that the rents of the great majority of cottages were under 2s. a week; and can he state the actual number that were in arrear at the date named?
§ Mr. BIRRELLOut of 39,241 cottages built there were 16,467 with rent in arrear. The total amount of rent in arrear on 31st March, 1912, was £8,695, which represents roughly about 10s. per cottage. This sum includes all rents up to 31st March, 1912, which were not actually lodged on that date by the collectors to the credit of the councils, but, as the tenancies are weekly, or monthly, portion of the rents might not be legally payable until a date subsequent to 31st March.