§ MR. HORNER (Lambeth, N.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the circumstances under which hospitals and institutions of a like kind have to raise funds necessary to carry on their charitable work, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to initiate legislation to give effect to the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons, dated 30th July, 1900, by which it was recommended that the principle of exemption from rates should be applied to hospitals and kindred institutions not carried on for profit or gain, and supported wholly or in part by voluntary contributions or endowments; and whether Her Majesty's Government propose in any way to give effect to the recommendations of that Report.
MR. LONGPerhaps my hon. friend will allow me to answer this question. The matter to which it relates is one of considerable difficulty, and forms part of the subject now under the consideration of the Royal Commission on Local Taxation. I cannot at present give any promise as to its being dealt with by the Government.