Mr. T. Morrisasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability of requiring that all Bills to which Parliamentary sanction is given and which entail an increase in rates shall have attached a careful financial statement showing what the amount of this increase may be expected to be?
§ The Prime Minister:My hon. and learned Friend is probably aware that the financial memoranda now attached to all Government Bills which involve expenditure from the Exchequer contain an estimate of the anticipated charge on local rates involved in the Bill in cases where rates are affected. This practice is, I think, sufficient to ensure that Parliament is made aware of the rate charge included in any Government Bill where that charge is of any magnitude. There are difficulties in the way of extension of this practice to Government Bills involving minor rate charges (which are frequently permissive in character) or to Bills introduced by Private Members.