§ 60. Mr. Dolandasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the following charges made to ratepayers in the half-yearly rate demand by the City of Westminster for air-raid precautions of 3.51d. and by the borough of Holborn of 5.01d.; and, in view of the undertaking by His Majesty's Government that when the rate for air-raid precautions exceeded a rate of 2d. in the £in any borough or other rate-levying authority the whole of such charges would be reconsidered with a view to lighting the burden on ratepayers, he will now reconsider the matter?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am aware of the provision made for air-raid precautions expenditure in current rate demand notes issued by the rating authorities of Westminster and Holborn. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer 1561 my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on 21st September to the hon. Member for North Southwark (Mr. Isaacs).
§ Sir Robert TaskerMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he can say that His Majesty's Government intend to carry out their undertakings in view of the very heavy demands which are being made?
§ Sir J. AndersonIn the answer to which I referred I stated that I was in con-sultation with local authorities on the general question of Civil Defence expenditure in war time.