§ MR. VICARY GIBBS (Hertfordshire, St. Albans)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that a subscription to the Association of Municipal Corporations by a metropolitan borough was disallowed by the auditor, and that this disallowance was upheld on appeal by the Local Government Board; and whether he will take steps to make it known to the Corporations of all
† See (4) Debates cvi., 276.1311 boroughs, whether metropolitan or under the Municipal Corporations Act of 1882, that such subscriptions are not properly chargeable to the rates.(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) A disallowance was made in the accounts of one of the metropolitan Borough Councils of expenditure of the kind referred to on the ground that there was no statutory authority for the payment. On an appeal being made to me the legality of the auditor's decision was upheld, but the disallowance was remitted. As regards the last part of the Question, I think it probable that the Councils of metropolitan boroughs are aware of the decision in the case mentioned; but at all events the Question of my hon. friend will no doubt have the effect of making it known to them. I have no jurisdiction with regard to the matter so far as the Councils of other boroughs are concerned.