§ MR. MURNAGHAN (Tyrone, Mid.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware of the extent to which local rates in Ireland have increased, in some counties as high as 35 per cent., since the standard year; and, seeing that all the increase is chargeable to the occupier, can he state whether it is the intention of the Government to propose an ameliorative change in the Law of Local Taxation in Ireland in order to give relief to the ratepayer; and will a Bill on the subject be introduced during the present sesssion.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe first poor rate made by the new Councils, although it included many exceptional charges, was nevertheless 7.9 per cent. below the rate of the standard year. The second rate, which also included some exceptional charges, was 20.7 per cent. below that of the standard year. The returns relating to the third rate, which are now being received, indicate that it is much below the second rate. There is no ground, therefore, for the assumption that local rates have increased since the standard year. As already stated, I am debarred from expressing an opinion on the larger question of Local Taxation, generally, until the report of the Royal Commission in respect of Ireland is published.