§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware of the circumstances under which the urban council of Portstewart proposes to increase the rents of the seventeen labourers' cottages in the townland of Mullaghacall from. 1s. 3d. to 3s. per week; whether these houses have been in the occupation of the present tenants for ten years and the rents punctually paid; whether one of the tenants is at present serving with the Army in France and of the others eighteen men have gone to the front; whether the Local Government Board refuses to interfere on the ground that it has no jurisdiction; and whether he will take immediate action to prevent what these tenants regard as a breach of contract and an act of oppression?
§ Mr. DUKEI have not at present sufficient information to enable me to answer these questions, but hope to be able to do so in the course of a few days.