§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Minister of Health the amount per annum lost to the rates throughout the country under the derating provisions of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1929, and how many actions have been contested in the courts under these derating provisions?
Sir H. YOUNGThe estimated losses on account of rates in England and Wales included in the General Exchequer Contribution under Section 86 of the Local Government Act, 1929, amount to £22,340,000. There have been 1,949 appeals from decisions of assessment committees, of which 1,885 did not proceed beyond Quarter Sessions: 1,405 of these were settled out of court.