§ MR. MAXWELL (Dumfriesshire)To ask the Lord-Advocate whether, seeing that payments under the Estate Duty (Agricultural Rates, etc.) (Scotland) Act are not made to the county and parish authorities until the months of November and December each year, and that an unspent balance, amounting to £91,405, was in hand on March 31st, 1905, arrangements can be made to pay one-half, if not the whole, of the grant to the various county and parish authorities at a much earlier date than November.
(Answered by Mr. Scott Dickson.) It is hoped to issue the grant in full this year at an earlier date than hitherto, and in future years to issue an instalment of about half the grant about the end of May.