§ 31. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Minister of Health whether the Rating and Valuation Act has caused an increase or a decrease in the number of whole-time officials and an increase or decrease in the number of part-time officials employed by local authorities; and whether this Act has caused an increase or a decrease in expenditure?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir. As the great bulk of local authorities have decided on 1929 for the first new valuation, I think it is still too early to institute such inquiries as would enable me to supply the information asked for; but as an illustration, I notice that in the evidence given by the clerk to the Rural District Council of Easington before the Royal Commission, it was stated that the net annual saving in that area was £729 after full allowance had been made for compensation.