§ SIR J. DORINGTON (Gloucester, Tewkesbury)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is in a position to state when the first instalment from the local taxation account will be paid to counties, and what proportion it is likely to bear to the whole amount payable in the course of the year, and also at what periods similar instalments will be paid, such information being necessary to enable County Councils to arrange their Budgets?
§ * MR. RITCHIEI have under consideration the arrangements which it may be practicable to make for the distribution of the licence duties and the proportion of the probate duty payable to local authorities, and I am anxious, so far as possible, to meet the convenience of the authorities in this matter. I am endeavouring to arrange that an instalment shall be paid in July, and a second instalment in October or November, the two together making up an amount not much less than one-half of the sum which it is estimated that the authorities will be entitled to receive in the course of the year.