THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNasked for a statement of the capital of the Gaslight and Coke Company and of the South Metropolitan Gas Company, distinguishing the moneys authorized to be raised in the form of shares from the 612 moneys authorized to be raised by loan, and showing also the amount which had been up to the present time raised in the form of shares and of loan respectively; and for a statement of the rate per 1,000 cubic feet charged by each company in the years 1859, 1861, 1869, 1875, and 1876.
THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONsaid, that the whole of the information sought by the noble Earl was contained in the accounts of each Metropolitan Gas Company, which were annually laid before Parliament under the Act of 1868. The Return should therefore be confined to the years 1859 and 1861. The accounts for the year 1875 were now in the hands of the printer, and would be laid before Parliament immediately on being received.
THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNexpressed a hope that the Returns would be laid before their Lordships before the second reading of the Gas Light and Coke Company's Bill.
§ House adjourned at Six o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock.