§ Mr. WILLIAM PEELasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the close relations existing between national and local taxation, and of the increasing burdens upon local rates caused by current legislation, and further having regard to the fact that certain taxes recently imposed have diminished the resources on which local exchequers rely, he will include in his next Budget statement a short review of local taxation and local indebtedness?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI cannot anticipate my financial statement, but I may take this opportunity of saying that I do not agree in the hon. Member's estimate of the effect of current legislation upon the burdens upon local rates. The effect of recent Government proposals will be to effect a substantial reduction in local rates.