§ Mr. MARDY JONESasked the Minister of Health whether, in the proposed Rating 63W Bill, he will make provision to amend the rating law so as to give the occupying owner of a dwelling-house the same abatements off the local rates as is now permitted to house owners who let a house or houses?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. The allowances to which he refers are made in consideration of the services rendered by landlords in collecting the rates from their tenants, and paying the rates whether the houses are unoccupied or not. There is no equivalent consideration in the case of an owner occupier.