§ Mr. LECKIEasked the Minister of Health whether he has completed his investigation into the working of the rules contained in Parts III and IV of the Fourth Schedule of the Local Government Act, 1929; and, in view of the fact that many local authorities are faced with a serious increase in rates as a result of the increased cost of out-relief caused by continued unemployment, whether his proposals for a redistribution of the General Exchequer Contribution will be available in good time before the making of the general rate for 1933–34?
Sir H. YOUNG:The collection of (a) the latest figures as to population, rate-able value, and unemployment necessary for the purpose of the calculation of the grants for the second fixed grant period and (b) expenditure particulars necessary for the calculation of the additional money to be provided by the Exchequer under Section 86 (3) (c) of the Local Government Act, 1929, has been proceeding and a Bill dealing with the latter is now being introduced. Calculations of the approximate grants payable for next year are now being prepared. The examination of the working of the Exchequer Grant formula in the counties and county boroughs cannot in any case be done effectively until these calculations are complete and the grants payable for the two fixed grant periods can be fully compared. This question is also very closely related to the problems raised by the report of the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance and further progress cannot be made with it pending a decision on those problems by the Government.