Mr. Jenkinsasked the Minister of Health whether he can state the total estimated rate to be levied for public assistance expenditure during the next 1844W financial year in Glamorganshire, Monmouthshire, and Durham, and also for Surrey, Middlesex, and Kent?
§ Sir K. WoodSince 1st April, 1930, it has not been possible to state what is the equivalent rate in the £ of the cost of any particular service included in the total rate levied, inasmuch as in arriving at the latter figure account has to be taken of the block grant under the Local Government Act, 1929, which is applicable to local government services generally and cannot be allocated between individual services. The following statement shows (in column 2) for each of the Administrative Counties mentioned by the hon. Member the estimated requirements for public assistance during the year 1938–39 expressed as a rate in the £, before making any allowance for the block grant. The total amount, as provisionally calculated, of the block grant (i.e., the County Apportionment) payable in respect of the year 1938–39 to the 1845W various authorities in each of the Administrative Counties in question is shown as an estimated rate in the £ in column 3.
Area. Equivalent rate in the £ required for Public Assistance before making allowance for the Block Grant. (1938–39.) Block Grant (County Apportionment) expressed as an estimated rate in the £. (1938–39.) 1. 2. 3. Administrative Counties. s. d. s. d. Glamorgan … 10 4 12 6 Monmouth … 9 4 14 2 Durham … (a) 4 11¼ 10 5 Surrey … 1 1½ 1 0 Middlesex … 1 3¾ 1 2 Kent … 2 5¼ 2 1 (a) Column 2.—The figure for Durham relates only to the first half of 1938–39.