MR. ARTHUR, LEE (Hampshire, Fareham)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether it is the rule that Local Government Board auditors shall disallow to Parish Councils the payments made by them for the provision and maintenance of fire-hydrants by local water companies; if so, will he take steps to have the rule altered, and auditors instructed to pass such payments; or, if the rule cannot be altered, will he explain how Parish Councils, which have the power of providing fire-engine and fire-escape under the Local Government Act of 1894, ensure a supply of water in case of fire.
(Answered by Mr. Long.) The law does not empower Parish Councils to provide and maintain fire hydrants, and I have no authority to instruct the district auditors to allow in the accounts of these authorities payments for a purpose for which they cannot legally incur expenditure. As regards the concluding part of the Question, the rural District Council may be invested by the Local Government Board with the powers of Section 66 of the Public Health Act, 1875, with respect to the parish, and the necessary application for this purpose may be made by the Parish Council. It would then be competent to the Rural District Council to provide fire hydrants for the parish.