§ SIR W. HART DYKE (Kent, Dartford)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the serious loss to ratepayers where property is taken under Parliamentary powers by railways or other companies, and a long interval occurs before the said property conies under rating, the liability for which falls upon the new purchasers; and, whether he can advise such an amendment of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1815, as shall entitle local authorities to be recouped not only the poor rate, but the whole of the local rates, until the new works come into rating?
THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARDI can only refer my right honourable Friend to the reply I gave to a similar Question last week. My right honourable Friend is no doubt aware that a Royal Commission has investigated the whole question.
§ SIR W. HART DYKEI suppose the right honourable Gentleman does admit there is a certain amount of grievance when the sale is compulsory?