§ MR. DALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ire- 160 land whether he can state the gross amount of county cess struck by all the grand juries in Ireland for each of the years 1895, 1896, and 1897, respectively?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe amounts of county cess levied at the March and July Assizes in the years 1895, 1896, and 1897, respectively, were £1,323,312; £1,280,577; £1,348,859. The amount for 1897 may be subject to some slight revision when the final returns shall have been received.
§ MR. DALYWas 1896 selected as the standard year under the Local Government Bill, because the cess was smaller in that year than in other years?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOUROn the contrary, the figures show that the cess in 1896–97 was greater than in previous years.