§ MR. DAVID MACIVERI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the recent distraint for rates upon the premises of the Liverpool Food and Betterment Association, a local charitable institution; and whether he can see his way to placing the local authorities at Liverpool in such a position as shall empower them to make some reduction in, if not to grant exemption from, the full rates which they are at present entitled or compelled to demand.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL. GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. GRANT LAWSON,) Yorkshire, N.R., ThirskI have seen newspaper reports of the case, referred to. My right hon. friend has 589 no power to place the local authorities at Liverpool in the position suggested in the Question. Legislation would be necessary for the purpose of making any addition to present exemption from rating and, with regard to this, I may point out that the Royal Commission on Local Taxation recently recommended that no further extension of the principle of such exemptions should be permitted.