§ MR. BARNARDTo ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the average amount of rates per head of the population in England and Wales collected in the years 1879–1899 and the last known year, respectively; and the grants in aid per head contributed from the Exchequer during the same years.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am not sure whether my hon. friend desires 20 particulars as to each year between 1879 and 1899, but perhaps the following statement, which is complied from the summaries of the Local Taxation Returns (England and Wales) for the years 1903–4 and 1904–5, will answer his purpose. It shows the average amounts per head of estimated population of the public rates and Exchequer grants received by the local authorities of England and Wales in the year 1879–80, and in every fifth succeeding year to 1904–5, inclusive. Sums paid by the Board of Education directly to the managers of voluntary schools are not included.
| Year. | Public Rates. | Exchequer Grants (including sums received from the Local Taxation Account). | |||
| 1. | 2. | 3. | |||
| £ | s. | d. | s. | d. | |
| 1879–80 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 1884–5 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| 1889–90 | 0 | 19 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
| 1894–5 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1899–1900 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| 1904–5 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 5 |