55. Colonel NEWMANasked the Minister of Health whether he will give the total number of the local authorities in England and Wales who are levying a rate for the current financial year of 20s. in the £ or more; whether he will circulate a list of their names and also a copy of any circular, or circulars, issued by his Ministry impressing on local authorities the need for economy, in view of the ruinous burden which the incidence of rates is causing on those citizens who have, to pay them?
§ Dr. ADDISONAs was stated in the White Paper on rates issued last night, I propose to issue as soon as possible a statement showing in the case of every urban district in England and Wales the amount in the pound of the rates levied in the current financial year and the previous year. In view of the nature of the causes, which, as explained in the White Paper, have contributed to the increase in rates, I doubt whether the issue of a circular in general terms would serve any useful purpose.
§ Dr. ADDISONIn the last part of the answer I did so.
Mr. J. JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman prepared to help municipalities in the direction of finding money by giving them power to levy rates on land values?