LORD HENLEYsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Poor Law Board, Whether it is his intention to proceed with the Assessed Rates Bill; and if not, whether he is about to propose any other measure for the amendment of the system created by the Eating Clauses of the Reform Act?
§ MR. GOSCHENIt is, Sir, the intention of Her Majesty's Government to proceed with the Assessed Rates Bill. It is right, however, to add that I propose to move clauses in Committee for the purpose of facilitating and securing, as far as possible, the adoption of that most advantageous system of agreements for the payment of rates between the overseers and the owners of the poorer class of house property, the latter being allowed a reasonable commission in consideration of the risks they undertake. It would, of course, follow that a modification should be made with regard to Clause 4 of the Bill. I mean the clause which provides for uniform deduction of 25 per cent from houses let for short periods, without distinction whether the landlords agree to pay the rates or not. I need scarcely add that it will be our duty to take the most rigid precautions that such agreements should not imperil the placing of the name of the occupier on the register, or endangering his political franchise. I think the fairest and most convenient course will be to place the clauses to which I have alluded on the Notice Paper before the House is asked to consent to the second reading, and that is the course which I propose to take.