§ CAPTAIN DONELAN () Cork, E.I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to a resolution recently adopted by the Youghal (County Cork) Urban District Council, pointing out the hardship inflicted upon occupiers of agricultural land situated within urban districts under the present system; and whether the Government will consider the desirability of extending the provisions of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, with a view to enable such occupiers to obtain the benefit of the Agricultural Grant.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)The answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The question of extending the benefits of the Agricultural Grant to the occupiers of lands in towns was most carefully considered at the time of the passing of the Local Government Act, 1898, and it was found quite impossible to adopt any scheme other than that embodied in the statute. I may remind the hon. Member that agricultural land in towns is only assessed to one-fourth of some of the taxes.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the high valuation placed on such land casts a very heavy burden on the occupier?
§ [No answer was given.]