§ Mr. FREEMANasked the Minister of Health whether he can submit any figures or other information showing if any special benefit has been received by necessitous areas as a result of the De-rating Act of 1929?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe principal provisions of the Local Government Act, 1929, did not come into force until the beginning of the current financial year. Many areas have received substantial benefit under the provisional distribution of grant, which is in course of being made for that year, but, in view of the differences of opinion as to what constitutes a "necessitous area" it is not proposed to publish particulars for any selected group of areas. In due course, a complete statement will be published, showing for every rating area in England and Wales, the amount in the £ local rates levied for the current financial year, with, for the purposes of comparison, a corresponding amount for the preceding year.