§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in connection with the Government-owned sites at Handforth and Wilmslow which include the No. 61 Maintenance Unit, Handforth, 16W the War Department Vehicle Depot, Handforth, and the Royal Air Force Station, Wilmslow Park, Wilmslow, he will consider requiring the Treasury to make a payment in 1960–61 in lieu of rates in respect of these properties in view of the delay in reaching a decision of the question of the future use of such properties for light industrial purposes.
§ Mr. H. BrookeRates are not payable on unoccupied property, and thus there is no ground for the payment of contributions in lieu of rates on unoccupied Crown property. The local authorities concerned in this case receive rate-deficiency grant, which automatically compensates in full for a fall in the Crown contributions.