Mr.T.THOMSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the serious handicap to the revival of trade caused by the burden of heavy local rates due to unemployment, he will receive a deputation representing the local authorities of those industrial districts where unemployment is most severe, in order that they may lay their case before him for some State assistance?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe position in these areas has been repeatedly brought to the notice of this and previous Govern 751 ments both by deputation and in other ways, and I can assure the hon. Member that there is no lack of appreciation on our part of their difficulties and that a very considerable measure of State assistance is already being given to them in various ways.
Mr. THOMSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a deputation has not had the privilege of seeing himself on this question? Cannot he follow the precedent of his predecessors and receive a deputation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI should he quite ready, of course, to receive a deputation, when other public matters are less pressing, but for the fact that in regard to this matter the deputation should first of all go to the Minister of Health.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs consideration of this matter not more necessary now, in consequence of the heavy extra burdens to be expected from the right hon. Gentleman's Budget statement?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWe anticipate a large series of discussions in this House on that subject.
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANDoes the right hon. Gentleman still think that the method of rating which he and his party proposed to introduce prior to the War would go a long way to relieve local authorities?