§ MR. KENYON (, &c.) Denbighasked the Secretary of State for the Home 95 Department, Whether, in view of the recent evidence given before the Royal Commission on the Metropolitan Board of Works, he can suggest any method of limiting their powers as to expenditure of ratepayers' money during the existence of their present functions?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)No, Sir; I am unable to suggest any method of limiting the existing statutory powers of the Metropolitan Board of Works. I apprehend that the legality of any expenditure of public money by the Board can be called in question before the Auditor on the complaint of a ratepayer.