§ GENERAL LAURIE (Pembroke and Haverfordwest)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, as the metropolitan vestries will cease to exist as municipal bodies on 31st October and the borough councils will come into existence on 1st November, it will be within the competence and will also be the duty of the existing vestries to make financial provision for the municipal services that will be required to be continued after 1st November; and, as any administrative changes that may be decided upon will take some time to formulate and carry into effect, whether any term has been fixed for which such provision should be made.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordThe first elections of the borough councillors under the London Government Act are to be held on the 1st day of November next, or on such later day as soon as practicable thereafter as may be fixed by the Lord President of the Council. The metropolitan vestries, therefore, will not necessarily cease to exist as municipal bodies on the 31st October. The local authorities who are charged with the duty of levying rates should make their rates at the usual time and for the usual period, and I am advised that it is within their competence to do so.