HC Deb 18 May 1866 vol 183 cc1147-8
MR. MORRISON

said, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Why no part of the amount annually voted in aid of the Local Assessment for the relief of the poor in the Plymouth district, as stated in the Return just presented to Parliament, is paid on account of the Government property in the borough of Plymouth?

MR. CHILDERS

said, in reply, that the Return alluded to by the hon. Member stated the amounts paid according to the districts, and the particular parishes in each. The reason why the two parishes at Plymouth did not receive any part of the grant referred to was because the rateable value of Government property in them was only one-ninetieth of the parishes, and the rule was that unless one-sixth of the rateable value of a parish was in respect of land occupied by Government, no grant from the public funds was given in aid of the rate for the relief of the poor. On the other hand, Devonport and Stoke contained a large amount of public property, and therefore they received corresponding aid towards their poors' rates.