§ MR. HAZELL (Leicester)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether his attention has been called to the desire of many local authorities for a longer period for the repayment of loans raised for the purchase of land required for public improvements; and whether, as the Poor Law Act of 1897 makes the maximum period of repayment sixty years, subject to the sanction of the Local Government Board, he will consider the desirability of issuing a circular to the effect that the Board is willing to consider making the maximum period sixty years, for repayments for land only, instead of fifty years, as indicated in their last circular.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. CHAPLIN, Lincolnshire, Sleaford)I am aware of the desire referred to in the first paragraph of the question. The Local Government Board have in special cases allowed a term of sixty years for the repayment of money borrowed under the Poor Law Act, 1897, for the purchase of land, and they will continue to do so in the like circumstances. I am quite willing to consider the point as suggested. But it does not appear to be necessary that any special circular should be 282 issued to boards of guardians on the subject.