Sir F. HALLasked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to a case in which a borough council has levied a rate for Poor Law purposes in excess of the precept issued by the board of guardians, with the result that a rate has been levied upon the owners of property within the borough which includes, for Poor Law purposes, an amount exceeding by several thousands of pounds the sum asked for by the recognised Poor Law authorities, namely, the board of guardians; and whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent a repetition of such action on the part of the borough council?
§ Sir A. MONDI received a communication from the local ratepayers' association about the case to which I presume my hon. and gallant Friend refers, from which I gather that the borough council in making the rate had before them the estimate of the finance committee of the guardians and that this estimate was subsequently reduced by the board of guardians. I have no jurisdiction with respect to the making of rates by borough councils, but I have no doubt that the 2103W council are alive to the position, and any excess produced by the present rate will, of course, be available for the reduction of the next rate.