§ MR. BENN (Devonport)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board how the increase in the average rate in the pound levied by the Metro politan boroughs up to 1905 compares with the increase in the average rate, exclusive of education, levied by the London County Council during the same period.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralI gave the hon. Member figures based on the returns made to the Local Government Board for the three years ended March, 1904, in my reply to his Question on Monday.† I am sorry to say that I cannot yet give him similar figures up to March, 1905. The hon. Member was good enough to furnish me with some figures up to the latter date, but I have not at present the material which would enable me to check these.