§ MR. T. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, after the almost unanimous vote of the Irish Members that was given on Thursday night, that the money that had been allocated to Ireland in 1896 should go to the relief of rates, it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill and the Agriculture, and Industries (Ireland) Bill, under which this money would be allocated to other purposes and if not, whether the Government are prepared to reconsider the position taken up on Thursday night, and make pro vision for the reduction of agricultural local rates in Ireland on the same basis as has already taken place in England and Scotland?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI am sorry I cannot give the hon. Member an answer to-day; perhaps he will defer the Question until Thursday next.
§ MR. LOUGHasked whether it would not be reasonable to postpone the Vote for the Irish Local Government. Board, which was down for that evening, until the Government should have determined whether or not the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill would be proceeded with.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI do not think that the Estimates for the year are relevant to the Question of the hon. Member. I may remind him that the Vote to which he refers is put upon the Paper to-day in accordance with the desire of the Irish Members.