asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the average rate in the £ for all counties for which the rate has been fixed for the year ending 31st March, 1950, and the average rate for last year.

The average rate in the £ for the 21 counties in which the rate has been struck for the year 1949-50 is 23s. 2d. The average rate in these counties for 1948-49 was 20s. 9d., the average rate for 1948-49 for the 27 county councils being 20s. 7d.