§ Mr. T. M. HEALYasked the Chief. Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the disappointment expressed by the district councils of Mitchelstown, Fermoy, and other areas, at the refusal of the Treasury to grant further loans for building labourers' cottages for which schemes have been sanctioned by the Local Government Board; and has he represented to the Treasury its pledge that the Budget of 1909–10 would only cost, Ireland as a maximum £600,000 extra when all the new taxes came into full operation; and, if not, will he now request that the difference between this sum and the £1,333,000, actually levied for extra taxation in Ireland last year should be devoted to improving the condition of the labourers?
§ Mr. BIRRELLOwing to the limited fund available as loans on land purchase terms for the purposes of the Labourers; Acts, it has been found necessary, in order to secure that the interests of any rural district should not be prejudiced, to fix a limit per cottage on the sums to be advanced out of the fund. Where, however, the expenditure on a scheme exceeds the amount, so sanctioned; the Local 215W Government Board authorise the council to borrow the additional sum required in the open market. The councils of the districts alluded to in the question have been dealt with in this manner. With regard to the latter part of the question. I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.