§ SIR BALDWYN LEIGHTONasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is the intention of the Government this Session to make any provision for the relief of local taxation, according to the Resolution of the House of Commons last Session; and, seeing that about nine-tenths of the local rates are now administered by popularly elected bodies, and most of the rest under the immediate direction of the Home Office, and seeing also that the London Government Bill 388 of last year, stated to be the basis of a County Government Bill, contained no provision for such relief, whether it is still the determination of the Government to postpone all such relief until the passing of a County Government Bill?
MR. GLADSTONE,in reply, said, this Question was one of a family of Questions which had not unnaturally been put to him with regard to a variety of Bills as to which the Government had more or less pledged itself to bring before the House on the first opportunity. The time had not yet come when they could arrive at a decision on the question. The subject was one of great complication, and would require a good deal of time for its consideration. The Government were quite sensible of its urgency. He would make a statement whenever they saw what time would be at the disposal of the House; but to attempt to do so now would be premature.