§ SIR F. DIXON-HARTLAND (Middlesex, Uxbridge)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether notices to licence-holders, sent out by post, by county councils in connection with the collection of local taxation licences, will require to be stamped; and whether, having regard to the inadequacy of the amount proposed to be allowed to county councils for the cost of collection, it can be arranged that they shall not be called upon to pay postage on circulars and notices issued by them in connection with these licences.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThe Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As I explained in the course of the debate on the Finance Bill on 15th July last, the grant of £40,000 to county councils in England and Wales should, in my opinion, provide a sufficient margin to cover all costs of collection; but I shall be glad to consider any representations on the subject which may be made to me by councils who, after due trial, think that the amount allotted to them is inadequate for the purpose.
§ SIR F. DIXON-HARTLANDasked if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that in the case of Middlesex the collectors will find this a very heavy burden, representing two-thirds of their percentages.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI shall be prepared to consider any representations on the subject.