§ MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether local authorities who decide to levy a rate for any purpose connected with the Coronation celebrations will be liable to surcharge by the auditor; and whether a rate so levied will have the same authority as a rate levied for ordinary local government purposes, and be recoverable from ratepayers like other rates.
§ MR. GRANT LAWSONThe effect of the Order recently issued by me will be to prevent the disallowance by a district auditor of the reasonable expenses incurred in this matter by any local authority to which the Order applies. In issuing the Order, I explained that its effect will not be to legalise any such expenses, but only to prevent their disallowance by the auditor. I have no authority to determine questions as to the validity of any rate which might include a sum to meet expenditure of this kind, and I cannot express an opinion on the subject. Such questions can only be determined by a Court of Law.
§ MR. CHANNINGDo I understand that the rate must be voluntary?
§ MR. GRANT LAWSONThat is a point of law which I cannot answer.