§ MR. SOAMES (Norfolk, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he can state when the Commission of Sewers for the county of Norfolk, which has the main control over the sea-coast defences, was formed; whether the lands rated for the purposes of the commission have ever been reassessed since then; whether he is aware that the commission publishes no accounts, and whether he will order an inquiry to be made into the matter.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. WALTER LONG,) Bristol, S.I understand that the question relates to the Commissioners of Sewers for the Eastern Hundreds of Norfolk. I have no authority to direct an inquiry with regard to the matters to which the hon. Member refers, but I am informed that the first commission held by the commissioners was issued in 1806, and the last in 1900, and that the latest assessment of lands for the purposes of the commission was made in 1813. The commissioners are of opinion that the large expense which would be involved in the re-assessment of the lands, consisting of upwards of 50,000 acres, would be useless, as the levels of the lands upon 435 which the assessment is based remain unchanged in almost all cases. I understand that the accounts are laid before the commissioners at their annual meeting in November, and are open to the inspection of any ratepayer. An abstract of them is published in the Local Taxation Returns.