Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance. – in the House of Commons at on 16 October 1941.
Rear-Admiral Tufton Beamish
, Lewes
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether he is aware that the Uckfield Rural District Council has recently had to arrange for an overdraft of £11,000, with the consequent burden of charges on the ratepayers, by reason of the delay of Government Departments in paying for services, ranging from £9,000 in lieu of rates' on requisitioned properties, and £3,300 for evacuation schemes, to smaller sums for air-raid precautions and fire brigades; and whether he will arrange for a system of imprest, to avoid this state of affairs?
Sir Kingsley Wood
, Woolwich West
As the reply is somewhat lengthy, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Sir Kingsley Wood
, Woolwich West
Yes, I will.
Rear-Admiral Tufton Beamish
, Lewes
Is there any information to show that other authorities are in a similar situation?
Sir Kingsley Wood
, Woolwich West
I will inquire.
It is the practice to make advances on account of contributions in lieu of rates where it is found that, owing to the number of Government requisitions, the local authority would otherwise be financially embarrassed. The Uckfield Rural District Council asked for, and received, a payment on account in March of this year, and a similar arrangement would have been made in September had they informed the Treasury Valuer of their difficulties. As regards expenditure on evacuation, I would refer to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health. In regard to grant-aided A.R.P. services, it has recently been arranged to increase the number of advance payments made in each year from four to six, and together these payments cover 97½ per cent. of the amount estimated to be due for the whole year, final payments being made after audit. A system of imprest is already in operation for expenditure of local authorities which falls to be reimbursed in full, whether on A.R.P., Fire Prevention or the National Fire Service.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
