§ Mr. LANE-FOXasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, although the Board have recently encouraged large expenditure on the Kidhall water scheme and an increased sewage provision at Killingbeck, for the benefit of the Crossgates and Seacroft areas, they are now prepared to sanction the annexation of those areas into the borough of Leeds; whether, in consequence, those areas will, in addition to the heavy rates of Leeds, have to pay a special rate for that expenditure, which will then become largely unnecessary; and under what pressure this policy has been adopted by the Board?
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§ Mr. BURNSThe hon. Member has been misinformed as to the facts in this case. The loans for the improvement of the sewage disposal works at Killingbeck were sanctioned before the representation in favour of the extension of the City of Leeds came before me, and I certainly cannot be said to have encouraged expenditure upon the Kidhall Water Scheme. Under the provisions of the Extension Order the areas referred to will be subject to differential rating provisions, which secure that for a period of fifteen years the rates in Seacroft cannot exceed 6s. in the £, and in Crossgates 4s. 4d. in the £. The suggestion that these areas will pay Leeds rates in addition to a special rate for expenditure on water supply and sewage disposal is therefore made under a misapprehension. The decision in this case was arrived at upon a careful consideration of all the facts, and I am satisfied that it is a right one.