§ Mr. Collindridgeasked the Minister of Health why his Department has refused permission to the Mexborough Urban District Council to make a grant of £25 to the Mayor of Barnsley's fund for the dependants of those who lost their lives in the recent Barnsley Main Colliery explosion; and will he reconsider this decision?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe decision carries out settled Government policy which applies not only in cases similar to this, but to other charitable objects, even when they are concerned with war victims. The general decision is based on the principle that rates represent a compulsory levy. I need hardly say that I fully sympathise with the motives of the council, but I do not feel that I could authorise a departure from settled policy in this case.