§ Mr. FELLasked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the still, continued fall in the price of Consols and other Government stocks and to the depreciation in the credit of the country, and if he will take this into account in any future legislation he may recommend; and if he will take steps to prevent the issue of further stock by the Local Government Board, or Irish Land Stock, or further borrowing of any kind, until the credit of this country is restored to its former position among the nations?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe answer to the first two questions is in the affirmative. As regards the third, the Local Government Board have no power to issue stock, nor have there been any recent public issues of Irish Land Stock. But how far such issues can continue to be avoided in the near future must obviously depend on the requirements of the Land Purchase Fund.