§ Mr. JAMES O'CONNORasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the fact that the Shillelagh Board of Guardians have not yet received a refund of the sum of£11 paid by them out of the funds of the union to the officials who prepared a Parliamentary Return respecting poor relief during the year ended 31st March, 1008; and if he can say when the money will be refunded to the board of guardians?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIreland's share of the grant from the Treasury towards the expenses of collecting statistical information for the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress will now shortly be distributed among the various Trish unions. The payments will be made on a uniform scale, whether or no the officers have already received remuneration from the rates. I may add that it is not the usual rule for payments to be made by the State for statistical information furnished by local authorities to a Royal Commission, and that the payments are not intended as a reimbursement of actual expenditure incurred.