§ MR. ANGUS SUTHERLAND (Sutherland)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he will explain how it is that, although by Section 56, Sub-section (b), of "The Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1889," a County Council is not empowered to promote any Bill in Parliament, or to incur or charge any expense in relation thereto, save only a Bill for confirming a Provisional Order made under or in pursuance of the provisions of any Act of Parliament, the County Council of Lanarkshire is empowered to promote the Lanarkshire (Middle Ward District) Water Bill, 1892, seeing that they have no Provisional Order for that purpose?
§ SIR C. J. PEARSONBy the Local Government (Scotland) Act a County Council is not empowered to promote any Bill in Parliament to the effect of charging the rates with the expenses incurred except in the case of Bills confirming Provisional Orders. There is however, nothing in that Act to prevent a County Council from promoting a Bill if the members are prepared to run the risk of being found personally liable for their expenditure in doing so.