§ 53. Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the speech of the Chairman at the ordinary general meeting of the London and North Western Railway Company held on 24th February; whether he will state what authority is possessed by the National Conference of Assessment Committees to enter into any arrangement for the reduction of the assessments of railway companies; and whether he can give the House an assur- 1276 ance that no special relief of this kind will be given at the expense of rural and other ratepayers through private Acts or otherwise, pending legislation to deal with the subject as a whole?
§ Sir A. MONDI have seen a report of the speech referred to. The authority for the arrangement is to be found in the powers possessed by Assessment Committees of settling the assessment of rateable hereditaments. The arrangement is, in my opinion, a reasonable and economical one, and there is no ground for the suggestion that it involves a special concession to the railway companies.
§ Mr. HURDCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the effect may not probably be an increase in the local rates?
§ Sir A. MONDEven so, I think the arrangement is a reasonable one.