§ Sir G. HURSTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that many local authorities were under an impression, based upon the financial memorandum and terms of Clause 44 of the draft Bill, that the Unemployment Assistance Board would take over the transferred duties soon after 30th June, 1934, and accordingly levied rates for 1934–35 which will prove insufficient, as the date for the transfer of duties is now fixed at 1st March, 1935; and whether he will consider placing local authorities in the financial position they would have occupied had the date of transfer been fixed at 1st October, 1934?
§ Mr. COOPERI am not aware of anything in the financial memorandum or Clause 44 of the draft Unemployment Bill which gave any indication that the appointed days under that Bill would be as early as my hon. and learned Friend suggests. As regards the last part of his question, I am not in a position to add anything to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 1st November to questions by the hon. Members for Wallsend (Miss Ward) and Dunfermline (Mr. J. Wallace).