§ SIR WILLIAM HOULDSWORTH (Manchester, N. W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, will he explain under what authority the Treasury are now requiring the promoters of private Bills for the construction or extension of harbours, docks, and piers to insert in such Bills clauses extending the provisions of Section 28 of the General Act, 10 and 11 Vic, cap. 27, to other Government Departments than those specially exempted by that section from the payment of dock rates or duties; and to what 78 Government Departments or Government services such power is held to extend.
§ MR. HANBURYThe Treasury represents to Parliament on behalf of the executive Government the desirability of inserting these clauses, and Parliament has constantly seen fit to insert them. In 1899, for example, they appeared in thirteen Acts and six Provisional Orders under the Board of Trade, and this year six Acts containing them have already received the Royal Assent. They will apply to all Government Departments.