SIR FREDERICK DIXON-HART-LAND (Middlesex, Uxbridge)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his attention has been called to the serious diminution of the receipts by county councils for the local taxation licences, probate duty grant, and estate duty for the year ending the 31st March 1895; whether he is aware that the arrangement under section 19 of The Finance Act, 1894, has operated to the disadvantage of county councils; and, whether he sees any way of obviating such disadvantage?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERMy attention has been called to the falling-off in these receipts in the year ending March 31, 1895. The receipts for the present year, however, will not only greatly exceed those of 1894–5, but will also exceed those of 1893–4, which of course were in no way influenced by Section 19 of the Finance Act, 1894. Under these circumstances it seems to me premature to conclude that that Scetion operates to the disadvantage of county councils.