§ MR. STRACHEY (Somerset, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board what powers (if any) there are to amalgamate one civil parish with another, and by whom such powers (if any) can be exorcised, and under what conditions?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNAIENT BOARD (Mr. H. H. FOWLER,) Wolverhampton, E.The Local Government Act, 1888, by Section 57, empowers a County Council to make an Order amalgamating one civil parish with another if, after local inquiry, they deem it desirable. The Order, which, subject to certain conditions, may be the subject of an appeal to the Local Government Board, requires the confirmation of that Board before it comes into operation. In the absence of an appeal against the Order it is the duty of the Board to give their confirmation subject to any modifications which they may consider necessary for carrying into effect the objects of the Order.