§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Transport (1) what has been the actual annual relief from rates to transport undertakings under the Local Government Act, 1929;
2309W(2) the Minister of Health what has been the relief on account of the first full year of operation of the Local Government Act, 1929, to the following industries: shipbuilding, chemical, coal, cotton, wool, iron and steel (heavy products), bleaching and dyeing, metal trades, leather, boot, shoe, clothing, rubber, food (including cattle foods), textiles (other than cotton and wool), paper, printing and bookbinding, pottery, glassware and miscellaneous, breweries and distilleries, and tobacco;
(3) what are the actual total reliefs to industry and agriculture separately, both directly and through freight relief, on account of the first full year of operation of the Local Government Act, 1929?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe Exchequer grants payable under the Local Government Act, 1929, in respect of the year 1930–31 are partly in respect of losses arising from de-rating, partly in respect of discontinued grants, and partly in respect of new money. These grants are not divisible between the several classes of rateable hereditaments. The losses on account of de-rating which have been made good by the new grants amount approximately to £22,500,000 in England and Wales, but I regret that I am not able to give any figures showing the relief which has been enjoyed by the industries referred to.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Health what has been the gain per head of the population from the working of the combination of block grant and formula for the distribution of the general Exchequer contribution under the Local Government Act, 1929, in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Tynemouth, Walsall, West Hartlepool, Merthyr Tydvil, Bath, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Hastings, Eastbourne, and Exeter?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe following statement shows, according to the latest available information, based on the figures for the standard year (1928–29), the amounts, per head of estimated population in 1928, of the Exchequer grants payable annually during the first fixed grant period (i.e., the three years beginning on 1st April, 1930), under the Local Government Act, 1929, to the councils of the under-mentioned county boroughs and the sums by which those amounts exceed the losses on account of rates and grants (as adjusted by reason2310W of the alteration in certain cases of Poor Law boundaries) attributable to the operation of that Act.
Name of County Borough. Amount, per head of estimated population, of annual Exchequer Grants under Act of 1929. Amount of excess, per head, of such Exchequer Grants over the above-mentioned losses on account of rates and grants per head. £ s. d. s. d. Gateshead 1 0 11 5 7 Middlesbrough 1 0 10 6 5 Tynemouth 18 11 4 11 Walsall 17 3 5 6 West Hartlepool 19 6 6 8 Merthyr Tydvil 1 8 4 1 0 Bath 11 5 1 4 Blackpool 9 0 2 4 Bournemouth 7 5 3 0 Hastings 1 3 1 1 0 Eastbourne 3 11 1 9 Exeter 15 7 1 0 The foregoing figures are subject to revision and do not include any benefit provided for under Section 114 of the Act in respect of the mitigation of liability for loan charges in respect of temporary loans to boards of guardians.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the additional cost to the Treasury during the current year in respect of the general Exchequer contribution under the Local Government Act, 1929?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI would refer the hon. Member to Class X of the Civil Estimates for the current year and to paragraphs 2 to 5 of my Memorandum on the Civil Estimates.