§ Brigadier-General SURTEESasked the Minister of Health (1) whether he can see his way to approach His Majesty's Treasury with a view to obtaining some modification being made in the scale of audit stamp duties prescribed by the Audit Stamp Duty (Local Authorities) Order, 1921, which duties bear heavily upon local rates;
(2) whether, having regard to the increased charges for stamp duty under the Audit Stamp Duty (Local Authorities) Order, 1921, he will consider the desirability of substituting yearly for half-yearly accounts, as in the case of urban district council accounts?
§ Sir A. MONDThe new scale of Audit Stamp Duty was fixed by the Treasury in accordance with the requirement of Section 61 (1) of the Finance Act, 1921, 899W that the duties levied shall be sufficient to cover the whole coats of District Auditors. I have already given notice of a Bill to substitute yearly for half-yearly audits where these are at present required, and if this proposal is accepted by Parliament, it would have the effect of reducing the stamp duty payable in these cases.