Oral Answers to Questions — Local Government – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 9 June 1964.
Mr Emanuel Shinwell
, Easington
12:00,
9 June 1964
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now introduce legislation to exempt clubs of a non-profit-making character, engaged in promoting welfare, from local taxation.
Sir Keith Joseph
, Leeds North East
No, Sir. Rating authorities have a discretionary power to give rate relief to such clubs if they fall within the scope of Section 11(4) of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1961, and I do not think there are grounds for going further.
Mr Emanuel Shinwell
, Easington
Does the Minister recall that, when the Rating and Valuation Measure was in Committee, hon. Members who had promoted an Amendment were given an assurance that local authorities had this discretionary power? Is he aware that very few are using this discretionary power to exempt non-profit-making clubs engaged in welfare from rating, or even to modify their rating? Will he consider the position of workmen's clubs throughout the country, some of which are finding it difficult to continue?
Sir Keith Joseph
, Leeds North East
No, Sir. I do not have information leading me to believe that failure to use the discretion is widespread. It is up to the local authority, which must take into account the interests of all ratepayers in its area.
Mr Emanuel Shinwell
, Easington
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that only the other day I received information from the general secretary of a club union proposing to promote a petition throughout the country to be presented to the Minister because of the reluctance of local authorities to use this discretionary power?
Sir Keith Joseph
, Leeds North East
I will certainly study that petition, or, if the right hon. Gentleman cares to send me the letter, I will start giving study to it now.
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.
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