MR.E.HUBBARD (Bucks, N.)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether Her Majesty's Ministers will consider the most practicable means of carrying into Law the following recommendations of the Commission on Agriculture, 1881–2—namely, that the cost of the maintenance of the indoor poor be defrayed by a rate upon the personal as well as the real property of the counties, or of areas wider than the existing unions; and that, without disturbing existing contracts of tenancy, all rates should, in future, be borne equally by owners and occupiers?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)The question of how property, other than real property, can be brought into contribution for Poor Law and other purposes is seriously occupying the attention of the Government; but they certainly cannot commit themselves to the particular mode suggested by the recommendation of the Commission. With regard to the division of rates, my hon. Friend will understand that, as this necessarily forms a question for consideration in connection with the Bill for the Reform of Local Government, I am unable, at present, to give him any information on the subject.