33. Colonel NEWMANasked the Minister of Health whether the charge which has been incurred by the local authorities on behalf of the ratepayers in paying a subsidy to the wives and dependants of those employed in the coal industry is a matter for his Department; and, if so, will he give the total amount that has been found out of the rates during the coal stoppage?
§ Sir A. MONDIt falls to my Department to obtain returns of expenditure by local authorities in England and Wales, but the information desired by my hon. and gallant Friend is not at present available, and I am considering how far it may be practicable to obtain it without putting the local authorities to the unnecessary trouble and expense of preparing a special return for this purpose.