§ MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the Belfast Board of Guardians, whether he will state what was the expenditure in Belfast Union in the year 1897 and also in the year 1898; how much of this expenditure in each year was in respect of medicine and of medical appliances respectively; and how much of this expenditure in each year was disallowed by the Local Government Board?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe expenditure of the Belfast Union in 1897 amounted to £81,724, and in 1898, so far as is known at present, to about £94,600. The cost of medicines and medical appliances in 1897 was £3,728, and in 1898 £5,280. No disallowance has yet been made by the Local Government Board in respect of either year, but the Board are now investigating the causes of the recent increase in the cost of medicine in this union.