§ MR. OLDROYD (Dewsbury)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the letter, written by Mr. Clinton E. Dawkins to Mr. A. Arnold, J.P., from the Treasury Chambers, dated 17th November, 1890, and published in the newspaper Press 30th November, 1890, and giving information as to the net financial gain to the Borough of Halifax under the new arrangement for the relief of local taxation compared with the old system, was, as stated, in fulfilment of a promise by him; and, if so, whether the Government will furnish similar information as to the effect upon the finances of six typical non-county boroughs with a high rateable value?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN, St. George's, Hanover Square)Yes, Sir; I gave Mr. Arnold the information as regards Halifax, as I should have given it to any other gentleman who had asked for it. It would not be possible to furnish information in the same way for non-county boroughs. As the hon. Member will recollect, payments in their case are not made direct from the Local Taxation Account, but after the county has paid the discontinued grants and the grants for union officers the balance is applied to the reduction of the rates over the whole county area, inclusive of the non county boroughs, which participate in the balance according to their respective rateable values. But I am informed that a Return will shortly be issued by the Local Government Board showing what the balance was in each county for the year 1889–90.