HC Deb 14 March 1889 vol 333 cc1668-9
MR. H. L. W. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)

I wish to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Metropolitan Board of Works will to-morrow open tenders for several hundred thousand pounds for the Black wall Tunnel scheme, and whether the Local Government Board can do anything to postpone that step until the County Council are able to consider whether that great expenditure is necessary or desirable?

* MR. RITCHIE

The hon. Member for Dundee informed me last night that the Metropolitan Board of Works proposed to take this step, which was the first information I had on this subject. The Local Government Board have no authority or power to interfere if the Metropolitan Board of Works should act in the way suggested by the hon. Member; but I cannot help saying that in my opinion, if the Metropolitan Board of Works do proceed to enter on contracts of the nature mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, they would be taking a course which is much to be regretted.

MR. LAWSON

If the Metropolitan Board of Works conclude the contract in question, will the right hon. Gentleman introduce legislation rendering it null and void?

* MR. RITCHIE

I cannot undertake to introduce retrospective legislation of the character suggested, inasmuch as the Board of Works would only have been acting in the exercise of their statutory powers. I propose to take a course which I am not usually anxious to do in cases where the Local Government Board have no power of interference. I propose to address a communication to the Metropolitan Board of Works suggesting that they had better defer the action proposed to be taken until the County Council have had time to consider the matter.

MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)

With reference to the announcement just made by the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to ask whether, in his proposed communication to the Metropolitan Board of Works, he will also refer to the question of pensions?

* MR. RITCHIE

I think, in the interests of the larger question of the proposed contract, it would be advisable to confine the communication of the Local Government Board to that subject, and not to enter upon the subject of pensions.