§ SIR ALBERT ROLLITI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he proposes to sanction the reasonable expenditure incurred by local authorities in connection with the celebration of the Coronation; and, if so, whether the sanction will apply to the Councils of municipal boroughs.
§ MR. GRANT LAWSONI propose to issue an Order sanctioning expenditure of this kind by the Councils of Counties, Urban and Rural Districts and Metropolitan Boroughs. The effect of the sanction will be to prevent the disallowance of such expenditure by the District Auditor. In most cases the accounts of Municipal Boroughs are not audited by a District Auditor, and I am not empowered to give any sanction in such cases. Indeed, the difficulty intended to be met will not arise, as the Auditor of those accounts has no power of disallowance or surcharge. I may add that in two or three instances in which the accounts of Municipal Boroughs are subject to audit by a District Auditor, sanction will, of course, be given.