§ Mr. GEORGE LAMBERT (by Private Notice)asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will add to his statement of Government expenditure the contingent liability on the rates caused by the Education, Housing and other Acts recently passed into law?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)I am very doubtful whether it would be possible to make such an estimate as my right hon. Friend desires, but I will ask the Ministries of Health and Education whether they can supply the information, but it would, as my right hon. Friend will agree, be very undesirable to postpone the presentation of the Papers already promised until this further information had been obtained.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWhen does the right hon. Gentleman think he will be in a position to give this information, as the rates in some districts are threatening to rise to very ruinous heights?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINAlthough my right hon. Friend puts his question to me, he is asking for information from half-a-dozen Departments or several Departments, and he desires that I should collect the information rather than that he should collect it himself. I am communicating with the two principal ones who are responsible for the Acts which he names in his question. I do not know whether they will be able to give the information, but if they do I will communicate it to my right hon. Friend as soon as I receive it.
§ Mr. LAMBERTIs not the right hon. Gentleman the guardian of the financial interests of the country?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI do not think am guardian of the ratepayers. I have sufficient burdens on my shoulders already without being responsible for that.