§ SIR GEOEGE TREVELYAN (Glasgow, Bridgeton)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government will consent to set on foot the inquiries necessary to prepare a Return of owners of land in the Metropolis, in supplement of the Returns of owners of land in the United Kingdom?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am in entire accord with the right hon. Gentleman in thinking that a Return of this kind would be very important and very useful, but it would be very difficult to obtain. I have consulted the President of the Local Government Board on the subject, and he informs me that there is no power now to compel the occupier of a house to disclose who is the owner or lessor from whom he holds. If the necessary legislation were passed, I am told that the cost of obtaining such a Return as the right hon. Member wants would be very great, and that elaborate machinery would have to be contrived for its preparation. In these circumstances, I hesitate to give an affirmative answer to the question of the right hon. Gentleman, although I entirely sympathise with the object which he has in view.