§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the altered 1271W commercial and financial conditions and prospects now affecting the owners and occupiers of industrial hereditaments, he will take steps to repeal the legislative enactments conferring derating privileges on the owners and occupiers of these heritable subjects; and whether he has any statement to make regarding the rating situation thereanent?
§ Sir K. WoodDerating was a measure of permanent reform in the system of local taxation and was accompanied by grants which are an integral feature of the new financial arrangements between the Exchequer and local authorities introduced by the Local Government Act, 1929. I cannot therefore ask Parliament to repeal that legislation.