§ MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether a deputation representing some sixteen urban district councils from the North of Ireland recently waited on the Local Government Board for Ireland for the purpose of pointing out the serious defects in the present rating law in urban districts; and, if so, is it the intention of the Government to introduce legislation this session to amend the defects complained of.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The reply to the former part of the Question is in the affirmative. The question of introducing legislation, with the object of facilitating the collection of rates and removing certain difficulties, to which the deputation called attention, is under the consideration of the Government, but I do not think it will be possible to introduce a Bill this session.