§ MR. HOZIER (Lanarkshire, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether, in order to prevent inconvenience, he will arrange that the Parochial Boards of Scotland shall receive their shares of the Equivalent Grant before the close of the current financial year of the Parochial Boards, that is to say, before the 14th of May next?
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, BridgetonI am sorry that, owing to the great increase of work lately thrown on the Scottish Office, I cannot promise that the shares of the Equivalent Grant will be issued by the 14th May. Every effort is being made to get through the work, and now that the Treasury have consented to reinforce the strength of the Office, it is hoped that arrears will not occur again. The necessity must have been very great to induce the Treasury to consent to the increase of the staff at the Office.