MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, will the Bill to relieve agricultural depression apply to Ireland?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI am not quite sure to which of the Bills of which notice has been given in reference to agriculture the hon. Gentleman alludes.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYThe Rating Bill is one of the principal Bills dealing with agriculture, and, from the very nature of the case, it cannot apply either to Ireland or to Scotland. But, in so far as that Bill provides for any subventions from public funds, to go directly or indirectly to aid agriculture, of course Ireland will get its full share.
MR. T. M. HEALYWill the right hon. Gentleman say how he proposes to extend this principle to Ireland?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYIt is not the principle but the money I was speaking of. [Laughter.]
MR. T. M. HEALYWill the right hon. Gentleman explain how he can extend public money to Ireland without a Bill?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI have no doubt a Bill will, be required for the allocation of money for 466 public purposes, but perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put a question on that subject to the Chief Secretary.
MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary how Ireland is to get the benefit of measures for the relief of agricultural depression promised for England?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI propose to bring in Bills by which that money shall be allocated; but it does not necessarily follow that the Bills will embody the principle of the English Bills.
§ MR. CHANNINGWill the right hon. Gentleman's answer with regard to Ireland apply also to Scotland?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYYes, it will.