§ MR. HUGH HOARE (Cambridge, Chesterton)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether there are any considerable arrears of audit of the accounts of the Parish Councils; if he could state when the forms to be prescribed by the Local Government Board for the accounts of Parish and District Councils, and of parish meetings for parishes not having District Councils, will be issued; when will the audit of these accounts to 31st March last be begun; and whether the work of the district auditors is very much in arrear generally through the country; if so, whether he will, in view of the large addition of audit work arising under the Local Government Act of 1894, and of the importance of an audit of all accounts very shortly after they are closed, arrange for the appointment of an adequate number of additional auditors?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREForms for the financial statements of Parish Councils and parish meetings for the period for which their accounts have to be audited have been prescribed by the Local Government Board, and the audit of these accounts will be begun without delay. Fresh forms are not required for the accounts of Urban District Councils, and the audit of these accounts is being proceeded with. The work of the district auditors generally is not in arrear. I have provided for the increased work caused by the Local Government Act 1894, by appointing five additional assistant auditors, and by arranging that the auditors shall have the help of extra clerks.
§ MR. H. HOAREAs I did not catch the drift of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, will he be so kind as to furnish me with a copy of the answer?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI am sorry I was not distinctly heard by the hon. Member. I will give him all the information I can.