§ 45. Mr. Weatherillasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in line with current Government policy on rents, he will take similar action to ensure that rates are also held at their present level during the emergency, in order that ratepayers may receive the same protection as council house tenants.
§ Mr. CrossmanNo. I look to local authorities to avoid all unnecessary expenditure, but, as the White Paper points out, rates are a form of taxation and are necessary to finance the whole range of services provided by local authorities.