§ MR. F. S. STEVENSON (Suffolk, Eye)asked the President of the Local Government Board, When the Bill for the appointment of a Boundary Commission will be introduced; whether it is intended that the Local Government Board shall cease to hold inquiries and to issue orders under the Divided Parishes Acts until the Report of the Commission has been received; and, whether the Commissioners will be instructed to abstain from making such alterations as will affect the decision at which Parliament may ultimately arrive with regard to the nature and extent of the intermediate areas to be constituted under a Local Government Bill?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)The Bill with reference to the appointment of a Boundary Commission will be introduced shortly. It is not proposed that the Local Government shall cease to hold inquiries and to issue orders under the Divided Parishes Acts until the Report of the Commission has been 219 received in cases where there is no overlapping by the parishes of a county boundary. No alterations of areas will be made by the Commissioners. The duty of the Commission will be limited to inquiry and reporting.
§ MR. WHITMORE (Chelsea)also asked the right hon. Gentleman, Whether it is intended to include the Metropolitan District within the scope of the inquiries of the Boundary Commission?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)It is not proposed to ask the Commission to deal with the Metropolis. The Local Government Board already possess considerable information on the subject. If further investigation be necessary, it is considered desirable that the proposals of the Government as to the Metropolis should be before the House prior to such investigation.