§ 28. Mr. CASSELasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why no provision for temporary Grants to Scotland for the period from 1st April, 1915, to 30th September, 1915, is made in the Fourth Schedule to the Finance Bill, corresponding to the Grants to England and Wales for the same period?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)Under the general law the financial year of local authorities in Scotland begins on 16th May, and the rates for the year are struck in the autumn. On the assumption that the valuation and rating proposals contemplated in the Finance Bill would be sufficiently forward to enable the rates to be struck at or about the usual time it was thought unnecessary to provide for temporary Grants for Scotland beyond the end of the financial year. The extension of the period in England is due, I understand, to the practice of half-yearly rating which obtains there. It may, however, be necessary to make provision for temporary Grants in Scotland for the whole of the next financial year, and the matter is now under consideration.
§ Mr. CASSELDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that the omission of six months' Grants to Scotland is rather an important matter?