§ MR. JEFFREYSI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that municipalities and corporations are now promoting Bills to construct and work tramways beyond the limits of their districts; and whether, seeing that under Standing Order 170A no powers are to be given to any local authority for construction, acquisition, or taking on lease of any tramway beyond the limits of their district except under special local circumstances, the Government propose to ask the House to alter or abrogate the above Order.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am aware that corporations are promoting Bills of this kind, and I believe that some have been passed before now, and the Standing Orders provide that in exceptional circumstances they may be passed. I do not think that any alteration of the Standing Order is possible, at all events until the Municipal Trading Committee has reported.