§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a small committee of experts to inquire into and to report to the House of Commons on the financial responsibilities of and relationship between taxpayers and ratepayers and to make recommendations to remedy the growing chaotic conditions of financial authority and responsibility between the Central Government and local authorities, or if he will make a statement on the whole matter.
§ Sir J. AndersonThe financial relations between central and local government were placed on a carefully planned and ordered basis by the Local Government Act, 1929. Since then, the need to enlist the co-operation of local government in a number of emergency services connected with the war, together with the impact of the war on certain areas, has made it necessary to devisead hoc measures of grant, reimbursement and financial assistance related to a number of temporary needs which could not have been foreseen in time of peace. I cannot, however, accept my hon. Friend's description of the present position. As regards the future, plans for the development of the various social and other services in which both central and local government play a part are now being framed. The future of the financial relations between central and local Government cannot, in my view, be 1887W usefully considered except in the light of the development of these wider plans, and I do not think, therefore, that an inquiry such as my hon. Friend suggests would be appropriate. I can, however, assure him that the matter is the subject of constant study, both generally and in relation to particular services.