HC Deb 22 November 1928 vol 222 cc1905-6
28. Mr. ERNEST BROWN

asked the Minister of Health the total amount estimated as the cost of applying each of the four factors for children, rateable value, unemployment, and density of population, respectively, under the Local Government Bill, 1928, for the purposes of weighting?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The object of the formula is to distribute any given sum of money and no specific figure of cost can, therefore, properly be attributed to any particular factor. Further, it would be very misleading to attempt to separate the values of the factors for children and rateable value since they have been used in combination with the basic factor of population as a general index of needs and relative wealth and poverty. If the hon. Member wished, however, he might regard a sum of £15,000,000 as distributable very approximately as follows:

£
Population weighted for children and rateable value 11,700,000
Exceptional unemployment 1,200,000
Low density of population 2,100,000