§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the fact that there are a great number of tenants with about 10 acres of land each on the F. Y. Westby estate, Kilballyowen, West Clare, and that there are 1,000 acres of land on the estate available for tillage, he will expedite the striping out of this estate, if only in view of the urgency of the food question?
§ Mr. DUKEOn the 14th January I promised the hon. Member I would look into the facts of the case. I have received a Report from the Estates Commissioners, before whom proceedings for direct sale of the estate under the Irish Land Act, 1903, are pending. The property has not yet been reached in order of priority, and the Commissioners cannot take it out of its proper order. As regards food production, the Regulations under the Defence of the Realm Act for increased tillage will of course apply to the occupiers of the lands on the estate.