§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on what basis the allotment of the County Longford portion of the Agricultural Grant was fixed; what excluded charges (if any) were taken into account in fixing the amount for the half-year at £4,905 5s.; will he explain why it is that, although the figures on which this calculation was based have been asked for by the County Council, no reply has been vouchsafed; and will he see that the Local Government Board supply full information as desired.
§ *MR. G. W. BALFOURThe basis on which the Agricultural Grant to Longford, as to other counties, was fixed, is defined in Sections 48, 49, 56 and 57 of the Act of last year. The excluded charges in the case of Longford consist of charges 1073 for malicious injuries, relief of distress, and special sanitary rates. They affected the Grant to the extent of about £90. The information asked for by the County Council was not given by the Local Government Board, but I propose, as already stated, to lay on the Table of the House a general Memorandum explaining the methods adopted in order to arrive at the basis on which the amounts of the Grant have been calculated.