§ Sir A. Wilsonasked the Minister of Health whether he will instruct his inspectors, when making statutory inquiries as to applications by local authorities for loans, to obtain in every case figures showing for the previous five years in the area in question the number of summonses for non-payment of rates, the number of distress warrants issued and for what amounts, and the amount of unpaid rates outstanding; and whether he will publish these figures?
§ Mr. ElliotIn the consideration of applications for sanction to loans, the financial circumstances of the local authority are always carefully reviewed, and I do not think that the detailed returns referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend would add materially to the information which is normally available to my Department, or would be relevant to a decision on a loan application.