§ MR. M'GOVERN (Cavan, W.)I beg-to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what steps the Local Government Board are going to take to rectify the errors they have made in issuing sealed orders and circulars in excess of their authority: and will they allow the county councils which they illegally compelled to increase the salaries of their officials to reconsider these salaries.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe Local Government Board has not issued orders in excess of its authority. Its authority is very clearly defined in Section 115 (Subsection 18) of the Local Government Act. The Court of Appeal decided that the preliminary steps taken by the Board to determine the amount in each case were informal, and quashed the orders on that ground. The authority of the Board to determine the increases was not mentioned by the Court. The Board, need I say, is prepared to acquiesce in the decision of the Court of Appeal in respect of every other case in which the orders are brought up on a writ of certiorari. It will make new orders in all such cases, and base its decision in each case upon the lines indicated by the Court of Appeal.
§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)Will the county councils have liberty to reconsider?
§ MR. WYNDHAMIt is not possible to begin de novo in cases where an agreement has been arrived at.
§ MR. FLAVINMay I point out—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member must not comment on the answer.
§ MR. FLAVINI beg to give notice that I will put another question down; yes, and I will ask it, too.