HC Deb 15 December 1955 vol 547 cc1515-7

Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 84 (Money Committees).—[Queen's Recommendation signified.]

[Sir CHARLES MACANDREW in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to amend the law regarding valuation and rating in Scotland and to amend the provisions of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1954, with respect to the payment of Exchequer Grants to local authorities in Scotland (hereinafter referred to as "the Act"), it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament—

  1. (a) in respect of the year beginning with the sixteenth day of May, nineteen hundred and fifty-six, and of any subsequent year beginning with the sixteenth day of May, of 1516 grants to local authorities in Scotland amounting in the aggregate to a sum which bears the same proportion to the total of the relevant local expenditure (as defined in subsection (2) of section five of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1954) of all the burghs and landward areas in Scotland as the notional Exchequer Grant for Scotland (as calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Act) bears to the notional relevant local expenditure for Scotland (as calculated as aforesaid);
  2. (b) of any increase attributable to the provisions of the Act in the sums payable out of moneys so provided under the Local Government (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1954;
  3. (c) of any increase, attributable to the provisions of the Act relating to lands and heritages occupied for the purposes of a police force, in the sums payable out of moneys so provided under section ten of the Police (Scotland) Act, 1946;
  4. (d) of all expenses incurred under the Act by the Secretary of State.—[The Solicitor-General for Scotland.]

10.4 p.m.

Mr. Douglas Johnston (Paisley)

I have no desire to speak upon this Money Resolution, or to oppose it. I only wish to use it as an excuse to congratulate the Solicitor-General for Scotland on a most able maiden speech. We shall look forward to his presenting the Government's case and replying to our debates upon future occasions.

10.10 p.m.

Mr. E. G. Willis (Edinburgh, East)

Money Resolutions are rather difficult for the ordinary Member of Parliament to understand, but it is very important, as my hon. Friend the Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) has said, that we should do so. I want to ask whether, under this Resolution, we are precluded from amending Clause 5 so as to bring it into line with the recommendations of the Sorn Committee. No doubt the Secretary of State will be aware that that committee recommended that half the expenditure now proposed should be borne by the Government. That seems to have been dropped out of the Bill altogether. We ought to have some assurance whether, under the Financial Resolution as drawn, we can amend the Bill so as to carry out that recommendation.

The Solicitor-General for Scotland (Mr. William Grant)

I understand that the Money Resolution would only cover the 50 per cent. grant if it were included in the Bill.

Resolution to be reported upon Monday next.