HC Deb 21 November 1916 vol 87 cc1255-6W
Mr. P. WHITE

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state, generally speaking, how long it takes to apportion maintenance rate by the Commissioners of Works; and, in a case where a rate is struck in globo on an estate just vested in the tenant purchasers and subsequently apportioned, say, six months after, the apportioned parts can be separately collected from the individual owners or whether the rate as originally struck must be collected in one sum?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

The time taken to apportion maintenance rate depends largely upon the time taken by the parties applying for the apportionment in supplying the information necessary to make it, but assuming such information supplied, it usually takes from six weeks to three months to prepare, print, and enrol the certificate of apportionment. The number of holdings affected have varied from four to 563. I am informed that the Board of Works are advised that where the rate has been struck prior to the issue of an apportionment certificate, such rate is recoverable only in one sum from the proprietors liable for the same.