§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that by reason of the procedure of the Home Office Middlesex are contributing a proportion of the police expenses less by ½d. in the pound than West Ham and some of the other authorities of Outer London; and, if so, whether he intends to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, Sir. As I have already explained in reply to previous questions, the inequality referred to does not arise from any procedure on the part of the Home Office. Middlesex, it is true, is contributing a smaller proportion than West Ham to the Metropolitan Police Fund, but the reason is that, under the existing law, the income of the Exchequer Contribution Account of Middlesex is insufficient to meet the statutory charges upon it. The only remedy is a change in 1247W the law, a matter now under the consideration of the Committee on Local Taxation.
§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has taken any steps to bring the present inequality of police charge before the Departmental Committee which is now considering local taxation and the incidence of rating; and, if not, does he intend to do so?
§ Mr. McKENNABoth the Home Office and the Local Government Board have brought to the notice of the Committee the failure of the Exchequer Contribution Accounts of the counties of London and Middlesex and the difficulties to which that failure has given rise. I have also, on several occasions, strongly advised the West Ham overseers to put their case in their own way before the Committee.