§ MR. GILESasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether any inquiry as to the dissolution of the Lower Thames Valley Main Sewerage Board has yet been held; what constituent authorities have, in response to his inquiries, expressed themselves as desirous of being separated from the Joint Board; and, whether he will grant facilities for giving effect to the recommendations in the Special Report 798 of the Committee of last Session, and for enabling the local authorities to carry out schemes for disposal of their sewage in their own localities?
MR. GEORGE RUSSELLThe Local Government Board have been in communication with the several Local Authorities on the subject. The last reply was not received until last week, and my right hon. Friend (Sir Charles W. Dilke) has directed that the inquiry shall be held as early as practicable. The constituent authorities who, in response to our inquiries, have expressed themselves as desirous of being separated from the joint district are—the Urban Sanitary Authorities of Kingston, Richmond, Heston and Isleworth, New Malden, and East Moulsey, and the Rural Sanitary Authority of the Kingston Union. It is also to be inferred that the Teddington Local Board are in favour of separation. The action of the Board with regard to the future arrangements as to the district must depend on the decision at which they arrive after the inquiry which is about to be held.