HL Deb 23 March 1933 vol 87 cc82-3

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

VISCOUNT GAGE

My Lords, I must apologize to the House for occupying so much time this afternoon, but I assure you I will only speak for a moment or two on this Bill. It is a Bill consequential upon the Local Government Act, 1929. By that Act, as your Lordships will recollect, certain moneys were contributed to local authorities by Parliament, in re- placement of rates taken away by the derating provisions. The contributions from the Exchequer were in part calculated on the basis of a formula. That formula took into account the special needs of necessitous areas. It is that particular part of the Exchequer grant made under the formula which requires from time to time the direction of Parliament, and in this Bill we fix the grant for a further period of four years, taking as the basis the same figure as was settled three years agoplusa calculated increase. As is usual in such matters we have been urged on the one hand to reduce these contributions as a measure of economy and on the other hand to extend them as a measure of assistance, but we have come to the conclusion that it would be unwise to alter arrangements with local authorities which have been in existence for such a comparatively short time. As this is a certified Bill and the hour is somewhat late I do not propose to say any more, but I will attempt to answer any question which any noble Lord may desire to put to me.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Viscount Gage.)

LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDE

My Lords, I will only delay the House with a sentence or two. We criticise the passage of this Bill very strongly because account has not been taken of the very distressed conditions of the local authorities. A great burden has been placed upon them not only by the present trade and economic dislocation, but also by additional charges for public assistance, and we think advantage ought to have been taken in this Bill, not of automatically continuing the former Bill, but of putting fresh money in to give some encouragement to the local authorities who find themselves in such a distressful condition.

On Question, Bill read 2a. Committee negatived.