§ MR. BARNARD (Kidderminster)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he will give the amounts and percentages, according to the latest year available, corresponding with the amounts and percentages of the aggregate local receipts and expenditure in England and Wales for the year 1868, as appearing at page 6, of the Return on Local Taxation prepared by the late Lord Goschen in 1870, and ordered to be reprinted in 1893 (Cd. 201, 1893).
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) My right hon. friend has asked me to reply to this Question. The aggregate receipts of the local authorities in England and Wales during the year 1904–5 amounted in round numbers "to £143,600,000. The following figures show approximately how this sum was raised:—£56,050,000, or 39 per cent., from public rates; £5,450,000, or 3.8 per cent., from tolls, dues, fees, fines, and penalties; £3,200,000, or 2.2 per cent., from sales, rents, and profits of property not elsewhere included; £19,600,000, or 13.7 per cent., from Government Grants and other receipts from Imperial funds; £33,400,000," or 23.3 per cent., from loans; £19,550,000, or 13.6 per cent., from gas, water, electric lighting, tramway, and light railway undertakings; £6,350,000, or 4.4 per cent., from other miscellaneous receipts. Total, £143,600,000 or 100 per cent. Sums received by the Metropolitan Water Board, whether from loans or otherwise are not included in the above amounts. Of the aggregate receipts of £143,600,000, approximately—£108,600,000, or 75.6 per cent., was expended by authorities acting for acres wholly urban; £5,000,000, or 3.5 per cent., by authorities acting for areas wholly rural; 1062 £30,000,000, or 20.9 per cent., by authorities acting for areas partly urban and partly rural. Total, £143,600,000 or 100 per cent. I may mention that in the above statement county councils (other than the London County Council) and drainage boards are, as in the Local Taxation Returns, treated under the head of authorities acting for areas which are partly urban and partly rural. The expenditure of harbour authorities is included in that of urban authorities.