§ MR. BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the number of local authorities that have obtained and are holding Provisional Orders for electric lighting without doing anything to carry their powers into practical effect?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEThere are 30 local authorities who have obtained Provisional Orders for electric lighting who have taken no steps to give effect to their Orders within the time prescribed for the execution of compulsory works. Besides these there are 63 local authorities who obtained Orders in 1897 and 1898 and have apparently done no work, but the time prescribed by their Orders has not yet expired. I may mention that the Board of Trade have lately been calling the attention of local authorities who are not exercising their powers to the matter, and have intimated that the Board propose to consider the question of revoking the Orders. In nearly all of these cases the local authorities have replied that they are now taking steps to carry their Orders into execution.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Can the right honourable Gentleman say how many authorities who have obtained powers are exercising them?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEI am afraid I cannot answer that Question.