§ 52. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a Royal Commission to inquire into the incidence of national taxation and local rates, so that the system of raising money operates fairly as between taxpayers and ratepayers and as between the ratepayers in different areas of local government.
§ Sir J. AndersonIt would hardly be possible to discuss changes in the incidence of national and local taxation, or of local taxation as between different areas, without embarking upon the whole question of the future financial relations between central and local government, on which, as I informed my hon. Friend on 7th March, I do not think a separate inquiry can usefully be undertaken at the present time. I can, however, assure him that the questions to which he refers are kept under constant review in framing plans for the development of the services with which both central and local government are concerned.
§ Sir W. SmithersDoes my right hon. Friend realise that Acts of Parliament put a very heavy burden on ratepayers and that in some areas, especially poorer ones, the burden will become unbearable?