§ 42. Sir BROGRAVE BEAUCHAMPasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction in parts of Essex over increases in the assessments for purposes of rating; and whether it is by his instructions that rating authorities and assessment committees have, with the object of securing uniformity between different districts, made these assessments higher than they otherwise would have been?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)My hon. Friend has been good enough to call attention to this matter. My right hon. Friend has not issued any such instructions, but it will be realised that uniformity between rating areas was one of the important objects of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, and this must inevitably lead to increased assessments in some places.