§ MR. HOBHOUSE (Somerset, E.)asked the President of the Local Government Board up to what dates the various local grants referred to in section 575 24 of the Local Government Act, 1888, will continue to be payable to local authorities; whether there is any enactment that prevents the Police Grant or any other grant being payable up to the end of the present local financial year; and, if so, whether he will ensure, by legislation or otherwise, the continuance of such grants until the County Councils become entitled to the full benefits of the local taxation licences and probate duty grant; and, if be can inform the House when the last instalments of the local grants are likely to be made, and at what periods payments may be expected to be made from the new local taxation account to the County Councils?
§ MR. RITCHIEThe several local grants which have been voted by Parliament in respect of the present finantial year will be paid before the expiration of the year. No further Vote for such grants will again be proposed. In the coming financial year the local authorities will have ceded to them certain licence duties and a proportion of the receipts from probate duty in substitution for those grants. The local authorities will not receive in the next financial year any grants in addition to the licence duties and probate duty, which are in substitution for the grants, I am not at present in a position to say at what dates payment from the local taxation account will be made in the next financial year, but I hope to be able to arrange that payment shall be made by instalments at such times as will be convenient to the authorities.
§ MR. HOBHOUSEWill the right hon. Gentleman answer more definitely the first paragraph in my Question?
§ MR. RITCHIEThe Government will pay the usual grants that are paid in the financial year. After the present financial year the local authorities will receive no grants at all, but will receive the licence duties, out of which they will have to meet the claims upon them.