§ Mr. O'SHEEasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the assessable value of England and Wales outside London was at the end of 1899 £126,238,808, and the average amount of poor rates raised during 1899–1900 per £ of assessable value was 2s. 7.8d.; whether he is aware that for the year 1908–9 the assessable value had increased to £156,212,298, being an increase of 23.7 per cent., and the average amount of poor rates raised to 3s. 6.2d.; whether he can supply corresponding figures for Ireland for the same years; and whether he is aware that the average amount of poor rates during 1908–9 in rural parishes in England and Wales was 3s. 10¼d. in the £?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am aware that the figures with regard to England and Wales are as given in the question. The rateable value of Ireland in the year 1899 was £14,643,810, and in the year 1908–9 was £15,600,071, being an increase of 6.5 per cent. The average amount of poor rate raised in the year 1899–1900 was 2s. 9.5d. in the £, and in the year 1908–9 was 2s. 8.9d. in the £. The poor rate raised in rural districts in Ireland in each of the years above mentioned was 2s. 4.4d. and 2s. 2.1d., respectively.