§ MR. SAMUEL YOUNG (Cavan, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the establishment of a Central Registry Office for Births and Deaths in Belfast, whether his attention has been called to a report of the Belfast United Trades and Labour Council, adopted at their last meeting, and in which they assured the Registrar General of the great advantage to the working classes which the establishment of such an office would confer; whether a central office can be established there under the existing law; and, if he will make further inquiry with a view of considering what can be done in the matter for the convenience of the working classes of Belfast?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, Leeds, Central)The Registrar General has again carefully considered the question of the sufficiency of the existing arrangements for the registration of births and deaths in Belfast, and has suggested to me the desirability of holding a public inquiry, at which all persons locally interested may appear, either personally or by solicitors. In this way the facts can be more fully investigated, and I have authorised the Registrar General to hold the inquiry in Belfast as soon as he can conveniently arrange to do so, and to give due notice of the date upon which the inquiry will be held.