HC Deb 19 April 1888 vol 324 cc1741-2
MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON (Shropshire, Oswestry)

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether, under Clause 36 of the Local Government Bill, it is proposed to transfer the powers, duties, and liabilities of the Town Councils of Boroughs in respect to Coroners to the County Councils; whether, under the provisions of a Bill introduced in "another place" by a Member of the Government, it is proposed to transfer the same powers to the Lord Chancellor; and, whether he will state which of the two Bills will receive the largest measure of support from the Government?

THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)

I presume my hon. Friend refers to Clause 34 of the Local Government Bill. If so, I would point out that the clause only affects Quarter Sessions Boroughs with a population under 10,000. It is proposed that in these boroughs the power of appointing Coroners should cease; and the duties of these officers, so far as these boroughs are concerned, will be transferred to the County Coroners; but the Bill does not propose to make any alteration in the mode by which County Coroners are appointed. The words of the clause are, no doubt, liable to misconstruction; and I will take care that it is amended in Committee, so as to make the matter quite clear.