Mr. Jenkinsasked the Minister of Health whether he can state the rate in the £ levied in Monmouthshire and the average rate levied in England and Wales for public assistance?
§ Mr. ElliotThe estimated requirements for public assistance of the administrative county of Monmouth for 1939–40 are equivalent to a rate of 9s. 6£d. The corresponding estimated average rate for the whole of England and Wales for that year is not yet available, but the figure for 1938–39 was 2s. 8½d. In the calculation of these rate poundages no allowance has been made for the block grants which are applicable in aid of local government services generally and cannot be apportioned to individual services. The total amounts payable by way of block grants to the local authorities in the administrative county of Monmouth and to all local authorities in England and Wales in respect of the year 1938–39, the latest year for which particulars are available, are estimated to have been equivalent to rates of 14s. 2d. and 3s. 2d. respectively.