CITY OF WESTMINSTER.

§ MR. PICKERSGILL

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is contemplated to confer by charter the title and status of city upon the new metropolitan borough of Westminster.

§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

Perhaps the hon. Member has seen in the newspapers the statement that, as soon as the necessary arrangements under the London Government Act have been completed, there will be conferred on the borough of Westminster, as constituted under the Act, the title of city, originally conferred in the time of Henry VIII.

§ MR. JOHNSTON

Will the chief magistrate be entitled to the dignity of Lord Mayor?

§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not think that follows.

§ (Later on) MR. PICKERSGILL

I beg to give notice that on an early day I will call attention to the proposed grant of the title of city to Westminster as an overriding of the deliberate and expressed determination of Parliament by the exercise of the Royal prerogative, and a breach of the distinct pledges given by the Leader of the House during the passage of the London Government Act.