HC Deb 09 April 1925 vol 182 cc2459-60W
Mr. BENNETT

asked the Minister of health whether in view of the divergence in practice between the various local authorities, he will obtain from the assessment committees of the country a statement of what, in the opinion of each of them, would be the loss sustained in the general rate by the acceptance of the principle that machinery included in Class 2 of the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee should be completely excluded from liability to pay rates?

Sir H. BARNSTON

My right hon. Friend is afraid that no useful object would be gained by asking the Assessment Committees at this stage for a mere expression of opinion, unsupported by evidence, on the hypothetical case suggested by my hon. Friend. I would, however, refer him to the conclusions submitted by the National Conference of Assessment Committees to the inter-Departmental Committee as summarised on pages 22 and 23 of the Report.