§ MR. J. KELLYI wish to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the quinquennial re-assessment of property in London, which will come into force in 1891, and will give the Water Companies power to exact an increased charge for their supplies, he can give the House any assurance that he will introduce a Bill during the present Session for the purpose of suspending the powers of the Water Companies to increase their charges for water consequent upon such increase in the assessment, and so prevent such companies from being in a position to force up the prices at which their undertakings will have to be purchased eventually by the London County Council?
§ *MR. RITCHIEThe powers to which my hon. Friend refers are powers conferred by Statute on the Water Companies, and cannot, I think, be dealt with alone. The matter is one which should be considered in connection with the whole question of water supply. I need hardly say we can hold out no hope of dealing with so difficult a question during the present Session.