§ Sir A. WILSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) the names of those county councils who respectively agreed and refused to forego the revenue they at present derive from the male servants' tax under the Revenue Act, 1869; what amounts were receivable by each county and borough council for the last financial year for which records are available; and whether he will now address a further communication to those who then refused urging them to consent;
(2)whether he will consider the possibility of ceasing to levy the male servants' tax as from 1st January next in those counties and county boroughs which have agreed to forego the proceeds thereof?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINA year ago the County Councils' Association informed me that they had inquired of the county councils of England and Wales whether 33W they would support a proposal for the abolition of the male servant duty,
regard being had to the fact that the loss sustained will not be made good by the Exchequer";and that out of 60 councils 37 returned a negative answer, 20 were in favour of the proposal and three expressed no opinion. The Association unanimously decided not to recommendthe abolition of the male servant licence duty at the expense of the rates.I have no information as to the views of any particular council, and I do not favour my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion that I should approach them individually. As my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury stated in the House on the Third Reading of this year's Finance Bill, the reconsideration of the block grants due in 1937 may afford the best chance of making an arrangement satisfactory to all parties. As regards the second part of the first question, I will send the figures for the latest available year to my hon. and gallant Friend privately. There are 145 counties and county boroughs concerned, and I do not think the information is of sufficient general interest to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.