§ MR. GWYNN (Galway)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board what were the average rates in agricultural districts throughout England and Wales on agricultural land, and on other hereditaments, for the years 1899–1900 and 1906–7, respectively.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSAgricultural districts cannot be exactly distinguished for the purposes of the statistics relating to local taxation. The only rate generally levied in the 13,000 rural parishes in England and Wales is the poor rate. In a few of these parishes there is also a burial rate, which is similar in all respects to the poor rate. In the year 1899–1900 the average rate in the £ of these rates, in all the rural parishes, was just under 2s. 9d. In the year 1905–6, which is the latest year for which similar information can be given, the average rate was rather over 3s. 9½d. The average rates in respect of agricultural land were in each case one-half of the amount.