§ Lieut.-Colonel Byersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Shaftesbury Rural District Council are being penalised to the extent of £126 5s. 6d. per year under the National Fire Service (Finance) Regulations, 1941, for the enthusiasm which they showed in bringing their fire service organisation up to date; and whether he will accept a contribution from that council of not more than 75 per cent. of a 2d. rate, as he would have done from an authority which had taken no action whatsoever.
§ Mr. EdeAs has already been explained to the hon. and gallant Member in correspondence the contribution payable by the Shaftesbury Rural District Council was computed in accordance with the Statutory Regulations, full account having been taken of the exceptional expenditure incurred by the Council in the standard year (1939-40). In the circumstances I cannotundertake further to vary the computation, nor have I any power to accept, in lieu, a contribution based on the product of 2d. rate.