§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Health whether he will specify the cases in which the non-county boroughs, while providing their own services, also contribute to the cost of similar services by reason of their being provided out of the general county rate?
§ Sir K. WoodUnder the Local Government Act, 1888, certain non-county boroughs retained functions in respect of the administration of Justice but were made liable to contribute to the county rates for these services as well as their own expenses. This double liability also arises under later legislation with respect to the expenses of probation committees, and of hospital provision (other than that for infectious diseases) and where a county council makes contribution to local schemes of e.g. sewerage or water supply.
Under the Education Act, 1921, a non-county borough council has power to incur expenditure on higher education as well as the county council, but the amount raised for their own purposes by the borough council (who contribute to the expenses of the county council) in any year out of the rates is not to exceed the produce of a rate of 1⅓d.
In addition to the above instances, a number of statutes provide that a non-county borough council may undertake a service similar to that provided by the county council and shall in addition to its own expenses contribute to the general county rate, subject to subsequent refund from the county council[of the amount so contributed. Examples are expenses in respect of weights and measures, diseases of animals, food and drugs, road lighting, and the supervision of midwives.