MR. O'KEEFFE (Limerick)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, seeing that the sum of —37,000 is annually received by the Crown out of the corporate towns in Ireland as quit rents, as is shown by the Returns lately laid upon the Table of the House, whether he can state if any of this impost is or could be applied in use of local taxation.
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe annual sum referred to in the question represents quit, etc., rents for lands in all parts of Ireland, and is not received out of corporate towns except to a very small extent. It forms part of the land revenues of the Crown in Ireland, which revenue is by law payable into the Exchequer, and is carried to the Consolidated Fund, and could not be applied as the hon. Member suggests.