§ 67. Mr. ATKINSONasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to a statement by the Ashton-upon-Mersey Urban District Council to the effect that an increase in the rates of over 5d. in the £ is the result of the operation of the Local Government Act, 1929, and not of extra county expenditure; and, if so, if he will say how the increase is caused?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Miss Lawrence)My right hon. Friend's attention has ben called to the statement. After corresponding with the county council and the urban district council, he is satisfied that the statement is incorrect and that the principal cause of the increase of rates in the urban district is to be found in the fact that the county council is in 1930–31 providing for expenditure which is greatly in excess of the comparable expenditure of the standard year.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEDoes that expenditure include an estimate of the cost of the new Education Act?