§ MR. R. G. WEBSTER, (St. Pancras, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether, as the Treasury contributions in aid of the London rates are 1¾d. in the £, and those of provincial boroughs are 4¾d., and those of counties are 3¾d. in the £, respectively, the Government will take any steps to further equalise these grants in aid.
§ MR. G. J. SHAW-LEFEVREI will answer this question. I have been quite unable to verify the facts stated by the hon. member. The share of London in the sums paid into the Local Taxation Account was, in 1893–94 £1,132,000, equal to 8d. in the £1 on the ratable 1042 value. The share of county boroughs was 9.8d. in the £, and that of administrative counties was 9½d. in the £. The distribution was in strict accordance with the arrangements made by the late Government.
§ MR. J. STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)asked, when it was expected that the Committee would be appointed, as promised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Budget Debate last year, to consider the distribution of the probate duty and licences as between London and the rest of the country.
§ MR. SHAW-LEFEVREsaid, he should communicate with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this point.