§ SIR JOHN BRUNNERI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether he is prepared to propose legislation for the purpose of endowing District, Borough, and County Councils with the powers now enjoyed by Parish Councils of receiving gifts of real and personal property for the benefit of the inhabitants; and, how many Councils have asked for these powers?
§ MR. CHAPLINIt does not appear to be necessary to propose legislation for the purpose referred to. An Urban District Council can have conferred on them, by an order of the Local Government Board, the powers of a Parish Council as regards gifts of property for the benefit of the inhabitants. The Local Government Board have received certain applications for these powers in connection with other powers of a Parish Council which urban authorities propose should be conferred on them. But I cannot specify the precise number of cases in which the powers referred to have been asked for. There is no objection on the part of the Board to confer the powers in question when they are desired, but the applications in this matter are being dealt with in connection with those which are at the same time made for other powers.