§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Eccleshall)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the attention of the Government has been called to the serious fall in the value of the Stock of the Bank of Ireland, the principal Irish railways, and commercial undertakings since 13th February, 1893; and whether he will grant the Return which is to be moved for this day?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh, MidlothianYes; I have noticed the fall in the Bank of Ireland Stock and the fall in one or two other—noticeable falls—Irish securities, but I have no observations to make upon the subject, and I have no means of giving official information to Parliament. I can only refer to the public sources of information, which are as open to the hon. Member as they are to me.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI should like to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the amount of depreciation which has occurred in eight of the principal Irish securities amount to nearly £2,000,000?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONErose.
§ MR. WEIRI should like to ask whether the "bears" have not been particularly active during the last few days?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEdid not reply.