§ SIR JOHN BRUNNER (Cheshire, Northwich)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can arrange to give prompt replies to Town Councils and District Councils applying to the Board for power to accept and hold gifts of property, real or personal, for the benefit of the inhabitants, a power similar to that now enjoyed by all Parish Councils.
§ MR. WALTER LONGWhen an Urban District Council ask for the particu- 44 lar power referred to, they usually also apply for other powers of a Parish Council, some of which can only be given after an investigation, which necessarily takes time. It has been the practice of the Local Government Board so far as possible to dispose of the whole application by means of one Order; but I have now arranged that any application for this particular power shall be dealt with separately, and there will be no difficulty in the necessary Order being issued forth-with.