SIR UGHTRED KAY-SHUTTLE-WORTHasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to what he said in his Speech of April the 5th last Session, viz:—
No one could hold the office which he had the honour to fill and refuse to admit that there were great faults in the government of London; he would go further, and say that there were questions connected with it which must undoubtedly be settled, seeing that Bills had been introduced by the Metropolitan Board of Works for taking upon itself the whole of the Water and Gas supply of London, and taking into account the Report of the Eire Brigade Committee which sat one or two Sessions ago,Whether, having made this statement, and, further, having on behalf of Her Majesty's Government been the cause of the abandonment, both last Session and again this year, of the Metropolitan Board's Bills for dealing with the Water supply of London, he intends to make any legislative proposals on these subjects during the present Session?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSin reply, said, he was glad to find that the words he made use of last year had made such an impression, and it was not his wish or intention to retract any of them. Since he made the speech referred to, he had been in constant communication with his right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board, and the matter had certainly not been lost sight of. The subject required very careful consideration, and he could not promise any immediate legislation.