§ SIR CHARLES DILKEI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board (1) whether it is the case that the provision in the Agricultural Rates Act admitting to any benefit of the Act, inter alia, cottage gardens exceeding one quarter of an acre, has been so affected by letters from the Inland Revenue, appearing to be based upon Article 5, Section 3, of the Local Government Board Order, as to exclude, in the parish of East Dean alone, hundreds of small freeholders from such benefit; (2) whether he is aware that Article 5, Section 3 (c), of the Order of the Local 1282 Government Board, by which it is directed that, in the case of premises consisting partly of agricultural land and partly of buildings, the minimum rateable value of the part consisting of the buildings shall be £3, has had the effect of excluding from the benefit of the Act all cottages with gardens of which the gross rateable value does not exceed £3; and (3) whether he will introduce such modifications in to the Order that cottagers to whom the Act, by virtue of the definition section, expressly applies may not be excluded from its benefit?
§ MR. CHAPLINWith respect to the first question, I am not aware of the facts mentioned as to the letters of the Board of Inland Revenue, and they are not within my knowledge. As regards the second question, I imagine that the cases of cottages with an area of land exceeding a quarter of an acre, where the rateable value or house and land would be less than £3, would be very exceptional, assuming that the hereditament is assessed at its proper rateable value. The case to which the right hon. Member refers is the only one that has been brought under my attention where it has been alleged that any hardship has occurred from the operation of the Order in this respect. Apart from any other consideration, no alteration of the Order of the Local Government Board could now affect this question. The several statements of value have been long since settled by the Assessment Committees, and the time for appeals has passed. The lists as settled will come into operation for all rates made after the 31st March next.
§ SIR C. DILKEasked if the right hon. Gentleman would inquire as to the legality of the portion of the letter which professed to be based on the order of his Department, or should he address a question on the legality of the letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
§ MR. CHAPLINwas understood to answer in the affirmative.