HC Deb 09 December 1926 vol 200 c2275
33. Mr. TAYLOR

asked the Minister of Health whether he has prepared or is preparing a scheme of block grants for the relief of necessitous areas?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

No scheme has been prepared or is being prepared for giving specific Exchequer assistance to necessitous areas. A proposal to substitute for certain grants now being made to local authorities block grants distributed on a basis which would give weight to the relative ability of the areas to bear the burden of rates, has been under discussion with the associations of local authorities for a considerable time.