§ 24. Mr. ALED ROBERTSasked the Minister of Health whether he has any information as to the number of local authorities which have responded to the appeal contained in Circular 1222 by reducing the charges imposed on ratepayers by way of local rates?
Sir H. YOUNGCopies of the rate demand notes for the current half-year have been received from 1,282 rating authorities in England and Wales out of a total of 1,755. I am glad to say that in 1,005 rating areas there has been a decrease in the rate poundage as compared with the corresponding half-year in 1931; in 162 areas the rate is unchanged and in only 115 areas is there an increase.