§ MR. R. A. YERBURGH (Chester)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the widespread prevalence of usury, as evinced by recent disclosures, and of the misery and suffering it entails upon the poorer industrial classes, and of the fact that under its present form usury has never been the subject of Parliamentary Inquiry, he will grant the Select Committee to inquire into the question, the Motion for which stands upon the Paper to-day?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI cannot, on the part of the Government, assent to an inquiry into what are called the usury laws, for that would be taken to mean an inquiry into the propriety of limiting by Act of Parliament the amount of interest 413 on loans, which I am sure is not my hon. Friend's intention or the object he has in view. But a more limited inquiry might with advantage be instituted, and if he will draw up a more limited reference than that indicated with regard to the fraudulent practices which are alleged to exist, I think much advantage might accrue from the appointment and labours of such a Committee. ["Hear, hear!"]