§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY (Lancashire, N., Blackpool)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in the event of no financial arrangement having been effected either provisionally or permanently between a county and a county borough under the Local Government Act, the Local Government Board will themselves provisionally determine next month the proportion of License Duties to which such authorities are respectively entitled, and will make some payment to them accordingly?
§ * MR. RITCHIEIn the event of no agreement being arrived at provisionally between a county and a county borough with regard to the division of the Local Taxation Licenses and Probate Duty Grant in respect of the current financial year, it will devolve on the Commissioners appointed under the Local Government Act to make the necessary provisional apportionment. I learn from the Commissioners that a majority of the counties and county boroughs have already arrived at provisional agreements, which have been submitted to the Commissioners for their sanction. Until the necessary apportionment has been made between a county and county borough the Local Government Board will not be in a position to make any payments to the authorities of those districts.