CLAUSE 23.—(Expenses of county councils and county borough councils) (Hansard, 28 July 1930)

§ Colonel WEDGWOOD
I beg to move, in page 21, line 37, to leave out from the word "shall," to the end of the Sub-section, and to insert instead thereof the words: be defrayed in one or other of the following ways according as the county council, 215 having regard to the benefit, if any, derived by various areas, think just and equitable, that is to say— (a) as expenses for general county purposes; or (b) as expenses for special county purposes chargeable on such part or parts of the county within the catchment area as the council think fit; or (c) by apportioning it between and charging it on such portions of the catchment area and in such proportions as the council think fit and by the issue of precepts accordingly to rating authorities. There are two Amendments, but they are to the same purpose. In one case the county is included in the one catchment area, and the other in which it is partly in one catchment area and partly in another. The intention is that the county council should have the same power of levying heavier rates on property in connection with the drainage scheme as is already possessed in the Bill by the internal drainage board.

§ Dr. ADDISON
The Amendment of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman really embodies in respect of (a) and (b) powers already possessed, and as the Amendment is quite common to the rest of the Bill, I have no objection to it.

§ Mr. WOMERSLEY
Has the Minister had any communication from the Municipal Corporations' Association about this Amendment? I understand that the Association is opposed to this principle. They argue that the discretion should not be left to the county council, and, therefore, they were hoping that the Government would not accept the Amendment.

§ Dr. ADDISON
I have not had any communication myself, but I understand that there is no objection in principle.