§ MR. B. L. COHEN (Islington, E.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can give facilities for the Second Reading of the Metropolitan Counties Water Board Bill, which has passed the other House of Parliament; and, if it should be impossible to pass the Measure into law this Session, whether Her Majesty's Government will introduce a Measure next Session to arrange for the transfer of the water supply of the Metropolis from the Water Companies?
SIR F. DLXON-HARTLANDI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that the Homo Counties interested are utterly opposed to the Metropolitan Counties Water Board Bill, and desire to maintain the rights they already possess, and have control over their own water, and will give the most strenuous resistance to a Measure which virtually places them under the London County Council: and, whether, under these circumstances, he will consider the advisability of withdrawing the Bill?
§ MR. CHAPLINMy right hon. Friend, the First Lord of the Treasury, has asked me to answer these questions. In reply to the latter, I must guard 1434 myself against any adhesion to the proviso of the hon. Member that the Home Counties interested are utterly opposed to the Bill in question. My information would lead me to a rather opposite conclusion. In reply to the first question, it is obvious in the present state of public business that unless the Bill was absolutely uncontentious it would be hopeless to pass it into law during the present Session. [Opposition cheers.] I do not propose therefore to proceed with the Second Reading. The Government, however, are fully alive to the importance of this question, and they hope to take an early opportunity of dealing with it next Session. [Cheers.]