MR. H. V. BUNCOMBE (Cumberland, Egremont)I beg to, ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, having reference to a correspondence which appeared in the public press relating to the adjudication on tenders for an 1598 electric lighting installation at West Ham, and a Resolution of the Town Council of West Ham to request the Local Government Board to make an inquiry into the circumstances, the Local Government. Board have resolved to institute the inquiry requested?
§ MR. CHAPLINThe Local Government Board have no authority under which they could undertake such an investigation as has been suggested, and the Board have informed the Electric Construction Company, who have been in communication with them on the subject, that if they consider that an offence has been committed under the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act, 1839, they might either themselves institute a prosecution or submit a statement of the facts to the Director of Public Prosecutions.