§ Mr. BARKERasked the Minister of Health the number of rating authorities and the number of assessment authorities existing in the county of Monmouth; and the number of each authority that will exist if the Rating and Valuation Bill becomes law?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIn the administrative county of Monmouth, with the county borough of Newport, there are at present 180 rating authorities and eight assessment authorities. Four of the latter act for areas extending into other administrative counties. If the Rating and Valuation Bill becomes law there will be 28 rating authorities. As regards assessment authorities, Clause 15 of the Bill provides that the county borough and such other areas as may be constituted by a scheme made by the 1093W county council and approved by me shall be assessment areas, and provision is made under which a joint scheme be made by the county borough and the county council. The number of assessment areas will, therefore, depend on the action taken by the local authorities.