§ Mr. CLANCYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the expenses of the Richmond District Lunatic Asylum have increased by over 50 per cent. since the outbreak of the War, as a result of the increase in the general cost of living; whether, in consequence, the Government contribution towards the maintenance of lunatics in public asylums in Ireland, which was fixed many years before the War, should now be revised; and whether the Government will take this matter into immediate consideration, with a view to giving some relief to the ratepayers?
§ Mr. DUKEMy attention has been called to this matter, and I have been in communication with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject. This question cannot be dealt with except in connection with a general revision of local taxation arrangements throughout the United Kingdom, which I understand would involve legislative proposals such as cannot be undertaken at the present time.