Major BARNESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, since 22nd August, 1921, is the total amount advanced for all purposes by the Irish Land Commission, the total amount that has been repaid, the total amount written off as irrecoverable, and the total amount now due?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe advance made to tenants for the purchase of their holdings from their landlords since the 22nd August last amounted to £2,914,885 up to the 30th ultimo. The earliest instalments of the land purchase annuities 391W in these cases will not fall due until 1st June, 1922, and the remainder of the question, therefore, does not arise. If, however, the date given in the hon. and gallant Member's question, namely, 22nd August, 1921, is given in error for 22nd August, 1881, the total advances made by the Irish Land Commission to the 30th ultimo to enable tenants to purchase their holdings from the landlords has amounted to £106,741,298. To ascertain the actual amount of capital repaid in such cases would entail a considerable amount of work, having regard to the necessity of ascertaining the amount of the accumulation of the sinking fund therein. The amount of capital actually "written off" under the Public Works Loans Acts up to this date amounts to £8,152 under the Acts 1881–1888. Under the Acts of 1891, 1903, and 1909, the amount of the arrears of instalments, including principal and interest which are irrecoverable, has amounted up to this date to £1,356.