§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury the amount of money made available for financing land purchase in Ireland in the twelve months ending 31st October, 1914, and in each of the five preceding corresponding periods; and whether that is the full amount of money applied for by the authorities administering the Land Purchase Acts?
§ Mr. MONTAGUExcluding the cash advanced under Labourers (Ireland) Acts, the amount advanced for land purchase in Ireland during each of the six years ending on 31st October was:—
The above figures represent the full amount of money applied for by the authorities administering the Land Purchase Acts.
£ Year ending 31st October, 1909, 7,680,537 Year ending 31st October, 1910, 5,113,102 Year ending 31st October,1911, 5,637,684 Year ending 31st October,1912, 5,004,346 Year ending 31st October, 1913, 5,033,628 Year ending 31st October, 1914, 5,304,131
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary if he will state the cause of the decline in the number of holdings vested in purchasers under the Land Purchase Acts in Ireland in the last twelve months as compared with the five preceding corresponding periods, having regard to the increased number of quasi-purchasers paying interest in excess of their purchase agreements and to the increased staff for completing these transactions?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the number of holdings vested in purchasing tenants under the Land Purchase Acts during the five years ended 31st October, 1913, was 101,779, representing an average of 20,355 per annum; the number vested in the year ended 31st ultimo was 14,762. The number of holdings vested, and the amount of advances made during any given year are not a precise index of the work of the staff generally during that year. They depend mainly on the amount of cash available, and the extent to which vendors choose to accept stock in lieu of cash. Other matters which delay vesting are questions of title, turbary, embankments, and the carrying out of improvements on estates purchased by the Commissioners. The statement that the number of purchasing tenants paying interest has increased, and that they are paying interest in excess of their purchase agreements is not correct. The number on 31st March last was 97,367, whereas the number on 31st March, 1913, was 115,572, while the interest payable by the tenants is that which they have in the purchase agreements contracted to pay. Since the 1st of April, 1911, the staff has been reduced by five inspectors and five assistant inspectors.