§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary, having regard to the sufferings at this season of the evicted families in Ireland to whose sacrifices beneficent land legislation is largely due, who are now, on 1147W technical grounds, denied the benefit of that legislation, if he will state what the Government propose to do for their relief, by legislation or otherwise?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that no less than 3,396 evicted tenants or their representatives have been reinstated in their former holdings, or provided with new holdings, and that a sum of £360,000 has already been sanctioned in equipping their holdings with buildings, live stock, etc. The Commissioners consider that the 257 cases which have been noted for consideration and where new holdings have not yet been provided include all evicted tenants whose claims deserve consideration and who are, in their opinion, suitable to work land, and I do not think that any case has been made for the extension of the classes of persons for whom the Commissioners may provide holdings under the Evicted Tenants Acts, 1907, and the Land Purchase Acts.