§ MR. STUART-WORTLEYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is true that, as stated in the "Morning Advertiser" of Saturday 24th February, so lately as the week ending on that day—
A request was issued from the Home Office to the Metropolitan Board of Works, the District Boards, the Corporation of London, and the Vestries, to furnish accounts of their receipts and expenditure, as well as reports from the different officers connected with their institutions, as to the working of the departments;whether such Reports, when received, will not necessarily be of immense volume and complexity; whether their due examination by the Home Office will not occupy a long time; and, whether it is intended to defer, until after due examination of such Reports, the bringing forward of the promised measure for the reform of the Corporation, or whether it is intended not to give to such Reports any sufficient examination at all?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, this Question, like some others, has been founded on a misapprehension of the reasons for which these Reports have been asked. The material facts they will contain have long been under the consideration of the Government; but it was necessary that the details should be verified. With regard to the last portion of the Question, I am afraid, in the pre- 1420 sent state of Public Business, there will be more time for the examination of those documents than I desire or can in any way want.