§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether it is the intention of his Department to promote the establishment of co-operative credit societies in the agricultural districts of England; if so, to what extent will they be supported or subsidised by the State; and whether he has been in communication with the Vice-President of the Irish Department of Agriculture as to the advisability of extending the benefits of these credit societies to Ireland?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but it is not proposed to support or subsidise credit societies from £tate funds otherwise than by making a Grant to the Agricultural Organisation Society towards the cost of organisation and inspection. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.