HC Deb 22 February 1937 vol 320 cc1643-4
50. Mr. Ede

asked the Minister of Health to which administrative counties of England and Wales will Section 3 (1) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Bill apply in the event of the Bill becoming law in its present form?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. R. S. Hudson)

It is anticipated that the administrative counties of Middlesex and Surrey will be the only counties affected by the provisions of Clause 3 (1) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Bill.

51. Mr. Ede

asked the Minister Of Health whether he will state, in respect of each of the administrative counties affected by Section 3 (1) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Bill, the amount that the county would have to contribute to the deficiency under the present law and the amount the county will have to contribute if the Bill is enacted in its present form?

Mr. Hudson

Under the Local Government Act, 1929, no contribution was payable by a county council when the county apportionment was less than the amount required to be set aside out of it for payment to the councils of county districts; the whole of the deficiency was made good by the Exchequer. Under the proposals contained in the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Bill it is estimated that the contributions to be made under Clause 3 (1) by the Middlesex County Council will be limited to the product of a penny rate (approximately £71,000) and the contribution by the Surrey County Council will be £36,000 in each year of the next grant period commencing on 1st April next.

52. Mr. Ede

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state, in respect of each of the counties affected by Section 3 (1) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Bill, the amount the Exchequer would have had to contribute to the deficiency under the existing law and the amount the Exchequer will have to contribute if the Bill is enacted in its present form?

Mr. Hudson

It is estimated that under the present law the contributions to be made by the Exchequer in each year of the grant period commencing on 1st April next in cases where the county apportionment is less than the amount required to be set aside for payment to the councils of county districts would be £131,000 (£107,000 in the case of Middlesex and £24,000 in the case of Surrey). Under the proposals contained in the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Bill it is estimated that the contributions to be made by the Exchequer under Clause 3 (1) will be £159,000 (£123,000 in the case of Middlesex and £36,000 in the case of Surrey).