§ MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he considers that the provisions of the Local Government (England and Wales) Bill adequately provide that meetings of the District and Parish Councils and their committees shall not be held in public-houses; and whether he will consider the expediency of inserting a clause to place this matter beyond doubt?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERThe Local Government Bill contains no express provision that parish meetings and meetings of Parish Councils shall not be 1920 held in public-houses. My hon. Friend the Member for East Bradford has intimated that at a subsequent stage he; will propose a clause with reference to the user of public-houses, and when it appears on the Paper I will consider whether or not I can adopt it. But, as my hon. Friend is aware, the Bill contains provisions for the purpose of securing to the parish the use, free of charge, for any such meetings of rooms in public elementary schools and in buildings, the expense of maintaining which is payable out of any local rate. The clause referred to has been passed by the House.