§ * SIR EDWARD SASSOON (Hythe)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he is aware that the rateable value of Shorncliffe Camp and grounds is now considerably higher than is represented by the amount contributed by the Treasury towards the rates; and, whether he is disposed to consider the desirability of making that property assessable to the rates, or of fixing such a contribution as would be in accordance with the system of late years adopted in London of contributing to local rates, so as to relieve struggling urban districts like Hythe, Sandgate, and Cheriton from burdens necessitated by fresh expenditure on repairs to and construction of roads, lighting, &c. I beg also to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that the rateable value of Shorncliffe Camp and grounds is now considerably higher than is represented by the amount contributed by the War Office towards the rates; and, whether he is disposed to consider the desirability of making that property assessable to the rates or of fixing such a contribution as would be in accordance with the system of late years adopted in London in contributing to local rates.
* A JUNIOR LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. ANSTRUTHER, St. Andrews Burghs, for Mr. HANBURY)There is no ground for the statement in the first paragraph. The Camp was entirely re-valued in September, 1894, when the assessment was fixed by the Treasury Valuer and the Assessment Committee of the Union in conference at gross £8,090, rateable, 325 £6,492. The Assessment Committee then passed the following resolution:
That the Committee accept the above figures as a fair assessment of the Government Property to the Local Rates.So recently as the 30th December last all the new buildings, &c. erected between September 1894 and that date, were added to the valuation on which the Government rate contributions are paid. There are other new buildings in course of erection but not completed, which will also, when completed, be added to the valuation. The system or principle on which the rates contributions are given for Shorncliffe Camp is precisely the same as that on which the contributions for the Government property in London are given.