§ Mr. W. NICHOLSONasked the Minister of Health whether the Audit Stamp Duty (Local Authorities) Order, 1921, doubles and, in some cases, more than doubles the amount guardians and rural district councils have to pay by way of audit stamp as compared with the old scale; whether, in view of the general desire for economy, he can see his way to reduce this excessive imposition on the ratepayers; and whether he will consider the advisability of having an annual audit instead of one half-yearly and so reducing the cost of the audit to the ratepayers?
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§ Sir A. MONDI am aware that the amount of Audit Stamp Duty payable under the new scale is, in most cases, more than that payable under the old scale, but this is necessary as the Finance Act definitely requires that the duty shall cover the whole cost of district auditors instead of part only as before. As regards the last part of the question, I have already stated that I am proposing to introduce a Bill to substitute yearly for half-yearly audits.