MR. LLOYD MORGAN (Carmarthen, W)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Parish Council for St. Clears, in the county of Carmarthen, petitioned the Standing Joint Committee for the use of the magistrates' room for the purpose of holding their meetings in it (the Secretary of State for the Home Department having determined that the room was suitable for holding such meetings), and the Council being therefore entitled by Law to the use of the room; whether he is aware that this decision was communicated in June of the present 267 year to the Standing Joint Committee, and they again declined to grant the Parish Council the use of the room; and, whether he will state the course the parish council should adopt in order to enforce their legal rights?
§ SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYIt is the case that my predecessor determined, under the power conferred on him by the Local Government Act, 1894, that the room in question was a suitable place for holding the meetings of the Parish Council; and that this determination was in June last communicated to the Standing Joint Committee. Apparently through a misunderstanding as to the effect of this decision, the Committee did not give effect to it. I am now in communication with the Committee, and I am in hope that a friendly settlement will shortly be arrived at in the matter.