§ Mr. SITCHasked the Minister of Health Whether the views of local authorities, or of any association representing them in a corporate capacity with regard to the amount of the rate-charge allowed on schemes under the Housing Act were ascertained before the limit of 1d. was fixed; whether he is aware of dissatisfaction among local authorities with the terms of financial assistance offered by the Ministry and of the misapprehension due to indefiniteness in the Regulations as to whether or not the proceeds of a Id. rate shall be the limits of financial responsibility on local authorities carrying out schemes under the Act; and whether he will consider the desirablity of issuing to all public bodies concerned a circular setting out in clear, precise, and unmis takeable phraseology what are the exact financial conditions governing their operations under the new Act?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe present terms of financial assistance, under which the liability of local authorities is limited to a 1d. rate, were fixed after representations had been received from the Municipal Corporations Association and a number of individual local authorities. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware it is proposed to alter certain provisions in the Regulations to which objection has been taken.