§ MR. A. JOHNSTONsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, Why the Report of the Metropolitan Board of Works, dated March 1868, was not presented to Parliament in July, or at latest in November, in accordance with the Act 18 and 19 Vic, s. 200 and 201; and, whether arrangements could not be made in future for such Report being presented within somewhat less than twelve months after the date thereof?
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENsaid, in reply, that the Report contained a very large amount of matter, and the Board of Works found it impossible to complete it within the time enacted by 675 the Act of Parliament. The delay last year was due to the serious illness of the chief clerk, and the Report did not come to the Home Office until December. As to the future; he could assure the hon. Member that he had received from the Board of Works an assurance that every effort would be used to ensure that the Report should be presented earlier.