§ MR. CLAUDE HAYI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact mentioned in the Report of his department, just issued, that the rates of the administrative county of London averaged 6s. 9.7d. in the pound, and those of the rest of England and Wales 5s. 6d. in the pound, yet the Government grants to the administrative county of London only equal 12.9d. in the pound, while those to the rest of England and Wales average 21d.; and what steps are being taken to remedy this inequality.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI am aware of the facts referred to in the Question. I may, however, point out that the grants in London are equivalent to 9s. 7d. per head of population, whilst in the rest of England and Wales they are only equivalent to 9s. 4d. It would seem impracticable to effect any general alteration in the basis of the distribution of the grants except in connection with a scheme for the readjustment of local taxation, for which purpose legislation would of course be required.