§ SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONE moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the operation of the law, as it at present stands, by which the property of Government, in the boroughs of Greenwich, Chatham, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Devonport, and elsewhere, is rendered exempt from local rates and taxes. He said the effect of the growing purchase of property by the Government was to render the burthen on the rest of the pariah positively into- 1798 lerable. In the case of Portsmouth, the rates amounted to 6s. 8d. in the pound, and had been 6s. 1d. on an average of fourteen years, which was more than had fallen upon property in most other parishes in England. Yet barracks entailed additional burdens on the parish. Soldiers' wives and children were left behind them upon going on foreign service; the widows and wives of seamen and marines, sick persons from foreign parts, and other peculiar burdens, were thrown upon the rates of these seaports. It was the opinion of Lord Campbell and Mr. Justice Erle that by a legislative enactment all Government property should be made liable to rates, as being but just and equitable to the rest of the parish.
§ MR. DUTTONseconded the Motion.
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Motion made, and Question proposed,
That a Select Committee be appointed, to inquire into the operation of the Law, as it at present stands, by which the Property of Government in the boroughs of Greenwich, Chatham, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Devonport, and elsewhere, is rendered exempt from Local Rates and Taxes.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, the question was a very important one, and ought to be investigated by a Committee. With a slight modification in its terms he would assent to the Motion.
MR. BOUVERIEsaid, this was a much wider question than the dockyards, but affected all Government and Crown property which was occupied beneficially. The inquiry proposed was of a very large and wide description. Exemptions of this kind were not right; they were the burdening of a comparatively small number for the benefit of the community at large. He suggested that the proposition should be altered into terms of general application.
§ SIR FRANCIS BARINGhoped the Chancellor of the Exchequer would modify the terms of his assent to the proposal. The grievance which existed pressed with great hardship. He admitted, however, that the Government had done quite right to assent to the subject being inquired into.
§ MR. JOHN LOCKEsuggested another alteration, namely, an alteration by which it should be inquired into why and how Government property was exempted from local rates and taxes. The rating of public institutions ought also to be inquired into—institutions unconnected with the particular parish in which they were placed— 1799 on the ground that those who carried them on had no beneficial interest in them.
§ MR. P. W. MARTIN, on the part of the boroughs situate in the county he represented, expressed his thanks to the Government for having acceded to the Motion; for the inequalities of rates in several of the parishes in question constituted a grievance which required some examination.
§ MR. WALPOLEsaid, that if there was to be a Committee to inquire into exemption of rates in Government boroughs, it ought to be extended to all other instances of exemption. He would suggest that the Motion should be framed so as to embrace all lands on which public buildings were situate which were exempted from rating.
GENERAL CODRINGTONhoped the damage done to parishes by the pulling down of houses for public purposes would not be lost sight of.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
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Select Committee appointed,
To inquire into the operation of the Law, as it at present stands, by which land occupied by Public Establishments is rendered exempt from Local Rates and Taxes.