§ 45. Mr. HURDasked the Prime Minister what steps are contemplated, in accordance with the Government statement of 17th July last, to devise for 875 enactment this Session an equitable basis of division of local expenditure between the national and local exchequers; and whether, seeing the growing urgency of the matter, he will appoint a small Committee of this House to assist in formulating exact proposals?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI fully realise the importance of this subject. The Exchequer contribution to local expenditure has already been largely increased, in part automatically as local expenditure rises, and in part owing to recent legislation. It has been the hope of every Government that they will be able to deal with this matter comprehensively, but this Session is obviously too crowded for legislation on the subject. As to appointing a Committee, there have been many investigations of this character. I appointed a Committee, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, as late as 1914, and I am not sure there is much to be gained at this stage by setting up another.
§ Mr. HURDHas the right hon. Gentleman forgotten the assurance from that Bench last July, that this matter was engaging close attention with a view to action this Session?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have already pointed out to my hon. Friend that, so far as further contributions to Local Authorities go, we have taken action. If my hon. Friend means that we should this Session deal with the whole of this vast and complicated local taxation question I think that is quite impossible, as my hon. Friend should know.
§ Mr. HURDWas not the assurance given from the opposite Bench, that an attempt would be made to find a basis of settlement during the present Session?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, I know; but a basis of settlement really means entering into the whole question of the relations between local and Imperial taxation, which is a vast subject—and the hon. Gentleman must know that.