§ SIR RICHAED PAGET (Somerset, Wells)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if, with a view to enable the Councils of the administrative counties and county boroughs to make the necessary financial re-adjustments under "The Local Government Act, 1888," he will furnish reliable Returns, setting out the amounts of Local Taxation Licence Duties and Probate Duty respectively, provisionally allotted to administrative counties and county boroughs; and also the amounts of old Government Grants; and of the new 'grant in respect of union officers receivable by each of the authorities above mentioned.
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE,) Tower Hamlets, St. George'sThe Local Government Board hope shortly to be in a position to certify under Section 22 of the Local Government Act, 1888, the shares received by each administrative county and county borough during the financial year ended March 31, 1888, out of the grants heretofore made out of the Exchequer in aid of local rates which have ceased to be granted since the passing of the Act. They will also certify under Sections 26 and 43 of the Act the annual sums payable to Boards of Guardians in respect of the new grants payable to the Guardians under the Act. It will be impossible to furnish at the present time any reliable Return as to the amounts of the local taxation licences and Probate Duty grant which will be received by each administrative county and county borough during the current year, as the amount of the licences and grant will not be ascertainable until after the end of the year.
§ SIR R. PAGETWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to insure that the information shall be furnished as soon as possible, seeing that it is necessary to have Returns in order to enable the Councils to come to a financial adjustmet?
§ * MR. RITCHIEMy hon. Friend may rest assured that the information will be supplied at the earliest possible date.