§ Mr. MacLARENasked the Minister of Health what are the estimated amounts for each rating authority's area in Somerset of the loss of rates due to derating, distinguishing the amounts in respect of agricultural hereditaments, industrial hereditaments, and freight-transport hereditaments, respectively; and the loss of rates due to withdrawal of grants now paid?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINWith regard to the first part of the question, I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Part X of the Return "Rates levied by Local Authorities (England and Wales)," which contains, on pages 3 and 10 to 13, full information as to the amount of rates estimated by the rating authorities to have been levied in the year 1927–28 in588W respect of the various classes of rateable property in each rating area in Somerset. With regard to the second part of the question, the amount of the Exchequer grants which would have been discontinued in the year 1926–27 under the provisions of the Local Government Bill, if those provisions had then been in force, in respect of areas in Somerset, is estimated to be £365,000. This sum includes £358,000 in respect of services which under the Bill would be administered by the county council and £7,000 in respect of services which would be administered by town and district councils.