§ 18. Major GEORGE DAVIESasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in some areas, owing to the date prescribed under the Rating and Valuation (Apportionment) Act for the submission of claims by ratepayers having been fixed as early as 16th October last, and the intervention of the holiday season between the passing of the Act and the prescribed date, a proportion of claims in respect of properties prima facie qualified as industrial hereditaments has not been received; and whether he will take steps to ensure that ratepayers who may have omitted to make their claims by the prescribed date shall not be prejudiced?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir; I am aware of the facts as stated. It was necessary in the first instance to fix an early date for the submission of claims to enable the local authorities to start their work without loss of time. I have advised some authorities, who have raised the point, that claims received since the 16th October should be dealt with on their merits and, while I must stress the necessity for lodging claims forthwith if the lists on which the rate relief and 3202 the calculation of grant will depend are to be complete by the appointed day, it is my intention to regularise the position as regards late claims.
§ Major DAVIESMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman will take any steps to make this decision widely known to all those concerned?