§ MR. HENRY HOBHOUSE (Somersetshire, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if, in view of the necessity of renewing the Agricultural Rating Act at an early date, he will grant a Return showing the amount of the rates levied in the different unions in England and Wales on agricultural land and other property for the two years ending 31st March, 1896 and 1900, respectively.
§ * MR. WALTER LONGI regret that I am unable to comply with the request of my hon. friend. Great labour would be involved in obtaining from the overseers of the 15,000 parishes in England and Wales the facts necessary for the preparation of the Return desired, and it would not be practicable to do this in time for the Return to be issued during the present session.
§ MR. HENRY HOBHOUSEDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to give no information as to the working of the Act before he asks the House to renew it?
§ * MR. WALTER LONGYes, in general terms. But this specific Return could only be obtained by applying to 15,000 parish overseers, and could not be prepared in time for presentation this session. But I shall be able to give the House a 1037 general statement as to the effect of the Act.
§ MR. GEORGE WHITELEYIs it not possible, for the House, then, to have any figures before it before being asked to renew the Act?
§ * MR. WALTER LONGThat is an extremely general question, which I do not think it is fair to ask me to reply to. If the hon. Member or anyone asks for information of a specific character, the Department will do its best to supply it.
§ MR. JOHN ELLISCould not the Department give the figures for some selected counties?
§ * MR. WALTER LONGI should like time to consider that question, as it involves some little responsibility on the part of the Department. I will see if it can be done.