§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether his attention had been drawn to a statement made at the annual meeting of the General Council of Irish County Councils on the 5th instant by a member who had recently been examined by the Special Committe on Irish finance now sitting in camera that the claims put forward by the Standing Committee on national finance and involving large extra subventions from the Imperial Exchequer to relieve the Irish ratepayers in respect of national education, Poor Law relief, and district lunatic asylums, would be recommended for adoption by the secret committee alluded to; and whether, should any such proposals be actually carried into effect, it was the Government's intention to introduce legislation conferring corresponding relief to British ratepayers in accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Local Taxation?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have not seen the statement referred to. If made, it was made without any authority, and, as I have said more than once, I cannot at this stage anticipate the proposals that will be brought forward by the Government.
§ Mr. NEWMANIs it not a fact that the education rate does not fall on the Irish ratepayers at all?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think that that arises out of the answer. Perhaps the hon. Member will address that question to the Chief Secretary.