§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he is aware that by fixing, under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and the Revenue Act, 1911, the amounts to be paid to local authorities in respect of motor-car and carriage Licence Duties at the actual sum collected in the year 1908–9 a hardship is inflicted upon a majority of the county councils of England and Wales, inasmuch as a loss of revenue is thereby sustained by such county councils; whether he is aware that the Gloucestershire County Council, in consequence of the adoption of the year 1908–9 as above mentioned, loses revenue to the extent of between £2,000 and £3,000 per annum; and whether, in view of the promise made by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Budget in the year 1907, and the intention of Parliament, as shown by Section 17 of the Finance Act, 1907, that county councils were not to be deprived of the natural growth of local taxation licences, steps will be taken, on the consideration of the Finance Bill of the present Session, to ensure that the annual amounts payable to county councils in respect of such licences shall be not less than the amounts which would have been payable if the before-mentioned provisions of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and the Revenue Act, 1911, had not been passed?
§ Sir JOHN SPEARBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers the question may I ask him if he is aware that the Devon County Council was last year deprived of £4,000, and that while the increased maintenance of the main roads—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice of that question.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI am unable to add anything to the answer which I gave to three similar questions on Thursday last in this House.