Captain COOTEasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the admitted need of reduction in expenditure out of rates as well as out of taxes, he will consider the substitution of a yearly instead of a half-yearly audit of the accounts of local authorities, and thus save the increased burden upon the rates imposed by his recent decision that local authorities should bear the whole cost of this audit?
§ Sir A. MONDAs I have previously stated, I propose to introduce a Bill to substitute yearly for half-yearly audits, and, if this proposal is accepted by Parliament, it would have the effect of reducing the Stamp Duty payable in these cases.