HC Deb 07 December 1933 vol 283 c1816
33. Mr. McGOVERN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of money refunded, for England and Scotland, respectively, under the De-rating Act for each year since the Act was passed?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the extent to which the occupiers of certain hereditaments were relieved of rates under the de-rating provisions of the Local Government Acts, 1929. The total rate reductions due to these provisions is, on the basis of the standard year (1928–29), about £22,340,000 for England and Wales and about;£3,340,000 for Scotland. Similar information is not available for later years, but I have no reason to suppose that the amount of relief has varried substantially.

Mr. McGOVERN

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of taking a portion of the money which is not required and allocating it to the abolition of the means test and restoring the cuts in unemployment benefit?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I am not aware that any of this money is not required.

Mr. McGOVERN

is it not the case that money is being given to large tobacco and whiskey firms who do not require it, and that the working classes could do with it instead?