Major BARNESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what grants to local authorities are based in the assessable value of these areas; whether the liabilities of the Exchequer under the Housing Act are affected by the increase or decrease of the assessable value of the areas in which housing schemes have been carried out; and, if so, to what extent?
Mr. YOUNGAssessable value enters as a factor into the calculation of the following grants to local authorities:
- (1) The substantive grant for elementary education in England and Wales;
- (2) The additional grant for elementary education in certain highly-rated areas in England and Wales;
- (3) Treasury grant in aid of intermediate schools in Wales;
- (4) Grants towards the deficit on housing schemes.
As regards the second and third parts of the question the annual liability of a local authority to make up the deficiency on an assisted housing scheme is limited to the proceeds of a 1d. rate in England and Wales and of a rate of four-fifths of a 1d. in Scotland and the liability of the Exchequer is increased or diminished if, owing to a change in the assessable value of an authority's area, the proceeds of a 1d. rate are diminished or increased.
Mr. FOOTasked the Minister of Health whether the Advisory Committee which considered the subject of the Order and Memorandum issued by the Ministry of Health in December, 1921, in reference to the form of accounts presented by local education authorities, were of opinion that the Grant Regulations No. 1, such 394W as are now issued by the Board of Education, should or should not be followed in arriving at the estimated grants receivable from the Board of Education during the current year,i.e., 1922–23?
§ Sir A. MONDThe Advisory Committee of representatives of local authorities were consulted on the form of the new annual statement which it was proposed to prescribe. They were not consulted with reference to any Grant Regulations as this was not a question for my Department.
Mr. FOOTasked the President to the Board of Education whether the new form of accounts as required to be presented by the local education authorities to the Minister of Health and the Board of Education will in any way prejudicially affect the substantive grant paid by the Board of Education to the local education authority?
§ Mr. FISHERThe administration of the Board's grants will be facilitated by the new form of accounts, but it will not affect the principles on which that administration is conducted.