§ Sir R. BLAIRasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the hardship caused by high rates, he will authorise local authorities to adopt the system of collecting rates by weekly or other periodical instalments?
§ Dr. ADDISONIt is open to all authorities collecting rates to accept, if they think fit, payment by instalments, and I have, in the case of certain boroughs, approved experimentally of special arrangements to facilitate collection by instalments.
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§ Sir R. BLAIRasked the Minister of Health whether he will set up a Departmental Committee to make speedy inquiry and to report upon the administrations of local authorities in areas where the rates exceed 20s. in the £?
§ Dr. ADDISONI regret that I cannot see my way to adopt the suggestions of my hon. Friend. Upon the question of the causes of the increase of rates, I would refer him to the White Paper which was issued last October, and of which I am sending him a copy. Further details will be issued in the course of the present week.
§ Mr. FINNEYasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to a resolution of the county borough council housing scheme committee of Stoke-on-Trent, requesting that, for the purpose of any enactment relating to rating, the gross estimated rental or gross value of any dwelling-house forming part of a housing scheme, to which Section 7 of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919, applies, should not exceed the rent (exclusive of rates) which was charged on the 3rd August, 1914, in respect of a dwelling-house of similar class and accommodation; and whether he will take the matter into favourable consideration?
§ Dr. ADDISONA copy of the Resolution has been sent to me, but I would remind the hon. Member that special provision restricting the assessments of these houses was made last Session, and I cannot hold out any expectation of further legislation upon the matter at the present time.
§ Mr. CHARLES EDWARDSasked the Prime Minister whether he has received a resolution from the clerk to the Monmouthshire County Council, and from other local authorities, calling the attention of His Majesty's Government to the great and widespread increase in the rates necessarily levied on all communities, and desiring the Government to take steps to avoid the imposition of additional burdens during the present time of financial pressure, and to make more drastic endeavours to reduce the prices of commodities, particularly of building materials; and if he will make a statement thereon?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINResolutions to this effect have been received, and the566W Government is doing all in its power to avoid the imposition of additional burdens at the present time. It is hardly possible within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question to discuss the extent to which Government action can be effective in reducing the prices of commodities, but as regards building materials in particular, I may mention that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health has recently appointed a Committee to inquire into the high cost of house building.