18. Mr. PERCY HARRISasked the President of the Local Government Board whether the reports asked for by his circular letter of the 4th of August, 1915, as to the nature and extent of any savings which local authorities have been able to effect, are being regularly received from such authorities throughout the country; whether he is able to state that substantial economies have been or are being made by such authorities; and whether he 988 will take steps to make the information contained in the above-mentioned reports available to the local authorities in order to assist them in making savings?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Long)A great many reports have been received showing savings which local authorities have been able to effect. Some of these are substantial and involve a material reduction of rates. The reports are not usually in a form which would be of much assistance to other local authorities in their consideration of economies, and my own view is that the best results are obtained by careful study of details in connection with the particular circumstances of each authority. I have, however, taken steps to give publicity through the Press to any information received which seems likely to be useful to local authorities in general.