§ 63. Mr. CHATERasked the Minister of Health the increase in rates in each of the Metropolitan boroughs due to the operation of the Local Government Act, 1929?
§ Mr. GREENWOODAs the reply involves a tabular statement, I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The following statement shows, in colums 1 to 6, inclusive, the poundage of the rates levied in each separately rated area in London since the beginning of the year which is the "standard year" for the purposes of the Local Government Act, 1929, namely, the financial year ending in March 1929. It is clear that in some cases in the financial year ending in March, 1930, boards of guardians (then about to be abolished) met out of their accumulated working balances expenditure which would otherwise have been met out of rates in that year, with the result that the poundage of the rates for that year—and especially for the second half of that year—was lower than it would otherwise have been. The amounts (in terms of a rate in the £) by which the guardians' balances were reduced during the year are set out in column 7. It is also clear that in the same year a few boards of guardians increased their working balances, i.e., called for more from the rates than was needed to meet the expenditure of the year, and the amounts (in terms of a rate in the £) of these increases are set out in column 8. The comparisons are also affected in varying degrees by many other factors. It will be seen from the table that, after allowance is made for the use of guardians' balances in 1929–30, there has been a reduction of rate in many of the boroughs, and that in scarcely any borough has there been a material increase.
2051| Name of Metropolitan Borough. | Rates levied in half-year ending in | Net increase or decrease of Guardians' balances as between 31st March, 1929, and 31st March, 1930, expressed as a rate in the £. | ||||||||||||||
| September, 1928. | March, 1929. | September, 1929. | March, 1930. | September, 1930. | Decrease. | Increase. | ||||||||||
| 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. | |||||||||
| s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | |||
| City of London | … | … | … | 4 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0¾ | — |
| Metropolitan Boroughs: | ||||||||||||||||
| Battersea (formed part of Wandsworth Union) | … | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 2½(c) | — | ||
| Bermondsey | … | … | … | 9 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2¾ | — |
| Bethnal Green | … | … | … | 9 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0¾ | — |
| Camberwell | … | … | … | 6 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 7½ | — |
| Chelsea | … | … | … | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0½ | — |
| Deptford (formed part of Greenwich Union) | … | 6 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 4(d) | — | ||
| Finsbury (formed part of Holborn Union) | … | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 1¼(e) | — | ||
| Fulham | … | … | … | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5¾ | — |
| Greenwich: | ||||||||||||||||
| Parish of: | ||||||||||||||||
| Charlton and Kidbrooke (formed part of Woolwich Union). | 6 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 7¾(f) | — | |||
| Greenwich (formed part of Greenwich Union) | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4(d) | — | |||
| St. Nicholas, Deptford (formed part of Greenwich Union. | 6 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4(d) | — | |||
| Hackney | … | … | … | 5 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 3½(g) | — |
| Hammersmith | … | … | … | 5 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0¼ | — |
| Hampstead (a) | … | … | … | 5 | 8½ | 5 | 8½ | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0¼ | — |
| Holborn: | ||||||||||||||||
| Parish of: | ||||||||||||||||
| Furnival's Inn | … | … | … | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1¼(e) | — |
| Saffron Hill | … | … | … | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 0 | — | ||
| St. Andrews and St. George | … | … | … | 5 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 0 | — | ||
| St. Giles and St. George | … | … | … | 5 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 0 | — | ||
| Staple Inn | … | … | … | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 1 | — | ||
| Gray's Inn | … | … | … | 4 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 8 | — |
| Lincoln's Inn: | |||||||||||||||||
| Township | … | … | … | … | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 | — | — | |
| St. Clement Danes | … | … | … | … | 4 | 10 | 4 | 9½ | 4 | 10½ | 4 | 10½ | 5 | 0½ | — | — | |
| Liberty of Rolls | … | … | … | … | 4 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 10¾ | 4 | 10¾ | 5 | 0¾ | — | — | |
| Hall | … | … | … | … | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | — | — | |
| Islington | … | … | … | … | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | — | 0 | 2 |
| Kensington | … | … | … | … | 5 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 3 |
| Lambeth | … | … | … | … | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1¾ | — |
| Lewisham | … | … | … | … | 5 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | (b) | (b) | |
| Paddington (a) | … | … | … | … | 5 | 3½ | 5 | 3½ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5½ | — |
| Poplar | … | … | … | … | 12 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3¾ | — |
| St Marylebone: | |||||||||||||||||
| Principal Area | … | … | … | … | 4 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 11 | — | 0 | 0¾ |
| Crown Estate | … | … | … | … | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2½ | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | |||
| St. Pancras: | |||||||||||||||||
| Principal Area | … | … | … | … | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1¼ | — |
| Crown Estate | … | … | … | … | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1½ | 4 | 3½ | |||
| Shoreditch | … | … | … | … | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 5 | — |
| Southwark: | |||||||||||||||||
| Parish of: | |||||||||||||||||
| Christchurch | … | … | … | … | 6 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 7¼ | — |
| Newington | … | … | … | … | 6 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 0 | |||
| St. George the Martyr | … | … | … | … | 6 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 2 | |||
| St. Saviour | … | … | … | … | 6 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 0 | |||
| Stepney: | |||||||||||||||||
| Formerly Parish of: | |||||||||||||||||
| Limehouse | … | … | … | … | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 8¾ | — |
| Mile End Old Town | … | … | … | … | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 3 | |||||
| St. George in the East | … | … | … | … | 7 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 0 | |||||
| Whitechapel | … | … | … | … | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 5 | |||||
| Stoke Newington (formed part of Hackney Union) | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 3½(g) | — | ||||
| Wandsworth | … | … | … | … | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2½(c) | — |
| Westminster: City of | … | … | … | … | 4 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 1½ | — | |
| Woolwich: | |||||||||||||||||
| Parish of: | |||||||||||||||||
| Eltham | … | … | … | … | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 0 | (b) | (b) | ||
| Plumstead | … | … | … | … | 6 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7¾(f) | — |
| Woolwich | … | … | … | … | 7 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7¾(f) | — |
| — | Rates levied in half-year ending in | Net increase or decrease in Guardians' balances as between 31st March, 1929, and 31st March, 1930, expressed as a rate in the £. | ||||||||||||
| September, 1928. | March, 1929. | September, 1929. | March, 1930. | September, 1930. | Decrease. | Increase. | ||||||||
| 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. | |||||||
| s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | |
| Highest rate in the £ for the half-year (h) | 12 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0(i) | 9 | 6 | — | — | ||
| Lowest rate in the £ for the half-year (h) | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5(i) | 4 | 9 | — | — | ||
| Difference between the highest and the lowest rate in the £ for the half-year (h). | 7 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 7(i) | 4 | 9 | — | — | ||
| (a) For the areas which are marked (a) in column 1 annual rates are levied and, for the purposes of this statement, one half of the annual rate has been treated as levied for each half of the financial year | ||||||||||||||
| (b) Particulars for the Lewisham Union (which comprises the Borough of Lewisham and the Parish of Eltham in the Borough of Woolwich) have not been furnished. | ||||||||||||||
| (c) Figures for the Wandsworth Poor Law Union as a whole. | ||||||||||||||
| (d) Figures for the Greenwich Poor Law Union as a whole. | ||||||||||||||
| (e) Figures for the Holborn Poor Law Union us a whole. | ||||||||||||||
| (f) Figures for the Woolwich Poor Law Union as a whole. | ||||||||||||||
| (g) Figures for the Hackney Poor Law Union as a whole. | ||||||||||||||
| (h) In boroughs where differential rating exists the rates levied in the central areas have been taken for the purposes of these comparisons. | ||||||||||||||
| (i) The figures for the half-year ending in March, 1930, were affected (as explained above) by the unusual course adopted in regard to the disposal of Guardians' balances. |
§ 64. Mr. CHATERasked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the increase in rates caused to the borough of Woolwich and other Metropolitan boroughs due to the operation of the Local Government Act, 1929; and if it is his intention to institute an inquiry into the working of that Act with a view to a more equitable distribution of the rates it entails?
§ Mr. GREENWOODIn reply to another question by my hon. Friend, I am supplying him with particulars of rates levied in each half-year in all Metropolitan boroughs, including Woolwich. As regards the position in that borough, I would refer him to the replies which I made on 24th March, 27th March and 10th April to the right hon. Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood), copies of which I am sending to him.
§ Mr. W. THORNEWill the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to extend his inquiries and get a return from all local authorities as to the increase in rates, or otherwise?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI hope to be furnished very shortly with the present position in regard to rates.