§ SIR FREDERICK DIXON-HARTLAND (Middlesex, Uxbridge)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has seen that, since the decision of the. House was given against the London County Council acquiring the control of the water supply 1117 of London, that Council has instructed its engineer to proceed with the plans and sections of the Wye portion of the Welsh scheme, at a cost of £1,500; and whether any and what steps can be taken to prevent tins expenditure of the ratepayers' money, and if the parties promoting the scheme can be surcharged by the Government or other auditor?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. HENRY CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordI have ascertained that the London County Council have, subject to the passing of the Annual Maintenance Vote, assented to the expenditure referred to in the Question, and that the expenditure is considered to be authorised by Section 3 of the London Water Act, 1892. The Local Government Board have no authority to intervene to prevent the expenditure; it will, of course, devolve on the district auditor in the case of the payments referred to, as in the case of any other payments by the County Council, to consider whether the expenditure has been legally incurred.