§ MR. HEYWOOD JOHNSTONE (Sussex, Horsham)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, if he is aware that, notwithstanding Section 3, Sub-Section 9, of the Local Government Act, 1894, the Bank of England refuse to pay to the Parish 346 Council of Slinfold, Sussex, the dividends on a sum of £91 12s. 7d. Consols, standing in its name in the books of the Bank, on the ground that it has no common seal; and that the Bank also refuses, on the same ground, to issue a power of attorney to the Council, to enable it to sell out part of such sum of Consols; and if he will take the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown as to whether a common seal is required, and, if necessary, bring in a Bill to explain and amend the section, and to enable Parish Councils which have not adopted a common seal to obtain the dividends which accrue on stock standing in their names, and to transfer such stock by transfers executed in the manner provided by the section?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. HENRY CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordThe Local Government Board are aware that a difficulty has arisen as regards the sale of stock standing in the name of the Parish Council at the Bank of England, and the Board propose to submit a case for the opinion of the Law Officers on the subject. The Board have no information as to any difficulty arising as to the payment of dividends.