§ 77. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, to what extent Her Majesty's Government now has jurisdiction over the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust, under which ex-Service men of the 1914–18 war occupy trust cottages in the Republic of Ireland; to what extent they have entered into any agreement with the Government of the Republic of Ireland about this trust; and what are the terms of such agreement.
§ Mr. J. FosterThe Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust is a United Kingdom body, one of the Trustees being appointed by the Irish Republican Government; the procedure of the Trust is governed by Treasury Regulations. The Trust has made proposals for selling cottages to qualified tenants and devoting the proceeds to building new cottages, and after discussion with the Irish Republican Government it has been agreed that the Trust should be given the powers necessary to undertake such a scheme. This involves legislation here, and as the hon. and learned Member may be aware, a Bill has accordingly been introduced in another place.