§ MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he would consent to a Return showing the acreage of the Royal Parks in Great Britain and Ireland, and their annual cost for the last ten years, with details of expenditure showing the weekly wages of workmen engaged respectively on roads, on paths, in gardening, the road and path mileage and cost per yard, the cost of gravel, sand, and stone, the number of lamps per mile and cost, the salaries of park-keepers, gatemen, rangers, and officials in each grade, and any other heads of expenditure.
I beg also to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he would give a Return showing for Kew Gardens, London, and Botanic Gardens, Dublin, the respective acreage; the area under glass; the annual cost for ten years of trees, shrubs, flowers, and seeds; the number of workmen and their wages; the number of scientific men employed and their salaries and emoluments; the date of the respective foundations; and the total cost of both to the State.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI shall be happy to give a Return showing the acreage of the Royal Parks in Great Britain and Ireland, of Kew Gardens, and of the Botanic Gardens, Dublin, and the total expenditure on each during the last ten years. I am unable to ascertain the total cost of each to the State since their foundation. On 21st March, 1899, my predecessor gave to the hon. Member the information which he desires as to the road mileage and cost per yard,† and details of the expenditure on wages and salaries will be found in the Estimates.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill the hon. Gentleman include in the Return the details I ask for, so that all can understand them?
† See The Parliamentary Debates [Fourth Series], Vol. lxviii., page 1558.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI see no objection to giving some of them, but to include those not already available would involve a great deal of trouble and labour without compensating advantages.