HC Deb 31 October 1902 vol 113 cc1306-9
MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the total valuation of Crown property in England, Ireland, and Scot land respectively, and the total amount of Treasury bounty in lieu of rates paid thereon, the amount withheld from any and what local authority in the three kingdoms, in consequence of the Brockley Park decision; and why, as the Crown are not liable to pay rates on any property, this decision has been availed of to repudiate liability in respect of contributions to rates for royal parks, which were never rateable; will he state what new legal principle affecting rateability this case decided, which led the Treasury into withholding contributions for royal parks; and why were the responsible law officers of the Crown in the three kingdoms not consulted before the Treasury undertook to decide that a new legal principle affecting rateability had been laid down by the House of Lords in the Brockley Park case.

Amount of Contribution withheld. Park in respect of which Contribution was withheld. Name of Local Authority from whom Contribution was withheld
ENGLAND.
£
233 Regent's Park and Primrose Hill. Borough Council of St. Marylebone
16 Regent's Park and Primrose Hill. Borough Council of St. Pancras.
450 Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens City Council of Westminster.
30 Green Park City Council of Westminster.
19 St. James's Park City Council of Westminster.
7 Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens Borough Council of Paddington.
22 Greenwich Park Borough Council of Greenwich.
5 Richmond Park Overseers of Coombe.
5 Richmond Park Urban District Council of Coombe,
20 Richmond Park Overseers of Ham.
25 Richmond Park Urban District Council of Ham.
70 Richmond Park Overseers of Mortlake.
52 Richmond Park Urban District Council of Barnes.
55 Richmond Park Overseers of Petersham.
11 Richmond Park Select Vestry of Richmond.
57 Richmond Park Town Council of Richmond.
92 Richmond Park Borough Council of Wandsworth.
5 Bushey Park Overseers of Teddington.
6 Bushey Park Urban District Council of Teddington.
IRELAND.
604 Phoenix Park County Council of Dublin.
SCOTLAND.
20 Holyrood Park Parish Council of Edinburgh.
28 Holyrood Park Town Council of Edinburgh.
2 Linlithgow Park Parish Council of Linlithgow.
2 Linlithgow Park Town Council of Linlithgow.

(Answered by Mr. Hayes Fisher.) The total valuation (rateable value) of property in the occupation of the Crown for the public service, excluding telephone trunk wires, telegraph property acquired under the Telegraph Acts, 1868 and 1869, and property in charge of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Woods and Forests, is—

£
In England 1,402,170
In Ireland 171,800
In Scotland 104,700

The total amount of the Treasury bounty in lieu of rates paid thereon in the year 1901–02 was—

£
England 412,698
Ireland 47,218
Scotland 21,282

The amounts withheld from the local authorities in the three kingdoms in consequence of the Brockwell Park decision, and the local authorities from whom they were withheld are as follows:—

As I informed the hon. Member on the 23rd instant, the valuations of Government property are based (as far as practicable) on the same principles as the valuations of private property. Accordingly, no contributions are made in respect of parks which would not be rateable if they did not belong to the Government. For the legal principles decided I must refer the hon. Member to the reported judgment to which I have already given him a reference. As explained by my predecessor, on 29th May last, the Treasury have always reserved to themselves the right to decide in the last resort upon any disputed question regarding contributions in lieu of rates. It is their practice to take such legal advice as they may require before forming their decision. In the present case they did not consider it necessary to consult the law officers.