§ SIR LEWIS MCIVER (Edinburgh, W.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the fact that the principle of Equivalent Grants has apparently been abandoned in respect of Ireland, he is in a position to state what annual sum will in future be allocated to Scotland in correspondence with the relief of rates recently announced for Ireland?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.It is at least premature to assume that the principle of Equivalent Grants has been abandoned, because it is proposed to accompany a great reform in Irish local government with a much larger relief from rates than Ireland would have been entitled to on the basis of Equivalent Grants. But if that principle had been abandoned, it would follow that the necessities of Scottish agricultural ratepayers would have to be considered rather than any question of 1407 corresponding amount in grants, and these necessities were met to the extent of five-eighths of the occupiers' rate of the Act of last Session. In any case, no question can arise during the current financial year.