§ MR. J. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, what is the estimate of the rateable value and the acreage of the agricultural land in Ireland to which the relief proposed to be given by the Agricultural Land Rating Bill would extend if Ireland were in-eluded in the Bill?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI will procure the figures asked for by the hon. Member if he desires them; but I may say that this question appears to be based on a misapprehension. It is not the intention of the Irish Government to make for Ireland the same proposals as are made for England by the Agricultural Land Rating Bill. As a certain sum is to be devoted from the Imperial revenue to local purposes in England it is thought right, as in 1888 and subsequent years, to devote a corresponding sum, in the proportion then fixed, to local purposes in Ireland. These purposes will be shown when I introduce the Irish Bill; but we do not think that in the case of Ireland the money would be best expended in the form of a grant directly in aid of agricultural rates.
§ MR. DILLONI should be very much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman if he would kindly procure me these figures, and his answer has only given me a stronger desire to get them. My question is perfectly clear. It is, Give me the figures for Ireland in case the English Bill is extended to Ireland.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI shall be perfectly ready to give the figures to the hon. Gentleman when I get them.
§ MR. J. H. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Bill he refers to will be introduced this Session?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOUROh yes, certainly.