HC Deb 20 February 1911 vol 21 cc1674-5W
Mr. LONSDALE

asked the Chief Secretary whether, on the basis of the income and liabilities of the Local Taxation Account, established under Section 58 of The Local Government Act, 1898, during the present and past financial years, the Account will be insufficient to meet the statutory payments therefrom in the next financial year; if so, whether he has taken into consideration the question of the condition of affairs that will result to the rating authorities in Ireland by having to meet from the proceeds of the rates about to be struck the accumulated deficiencies of the Account in the present as well as the approaching financial years; and what steps the Government propose to take to obviate so heavy a burden falling upon the ratepayers?

Mr. BIRRELL

I am not in a position to state whether there will be a deficiency in the Local Taxation Account in the next financial year. There is no prospect of the rates having to meet an additional charge on account of the insufficiency of the Local Taxation Grants such as would be productive of undue hardship on the ratepayers.

Mr. LONSDALE

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the finances of county councils, rural and urban district councils, and boards of guardians throughout Ireland are disorganised in consequence of the short payments to those bodies out of the Local Taxation Account established under Section 58 of the Local Government Act, 1898; whether, inasmuch as this shortage will have to be made good by Irish ratepayers generally, he can state what the total deficiency amounts to; is he aware that inconvenience is also caused to the local authorities who are at present engaged in the preparation of their estimates of expenditure to be met from the rates in the coming year by the delay on the part of the Government in communicating to them information on this matter; and will he give an undertaking that there shall be no further delay?

Mr. BIRRELL

I am not aware that the finances of the local authorities have been disorganised in consequence of short payments from the Local Taxation Fund. It is not yet possible to state the total amount of the deficit in the Fund. There has been no unnecessary delay in the matter.