§ MR. ALBAN GIBBS (London)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board from what source the rate of 4s. 10d. in the £1, which was stated to be the approximate rate in the City, was taken; and whether he is aware that the rate in the parish of St. Martin Outwich for the last 12 months was 6s. 9d.?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. SHAW-LEFEVRE,) Bradford, CentralIt appears from Returns received by the Local Government Board that the average rates in the £1 on the Poor Law valuation of the total rates raised in the City of London 1571 during the three years ended at Lady-Day, 1893, were 4s. 8d., 4s. 9d., and 4s. 8d. respectively; and allowing for leakages, which, according to a recent Return amounted to 3½ per cent., the total average annual rate in the City would be approximately 4s. 10d. The Return published by the London County Council in April last gives a similar result. I do not know what is the total amount of rates levied during the last 12 months in the parish of St. Martin Outwich. That parish, I understand, contains 25 houses with a population of 102. If the rates for the past year were as high as is suggested there must have been a considerable increase as compared with some preceding years, and presumably from some exceptional cause.
§ MR. ALBAN GIBBSI will supply the right hon. Gentleman with the figures.