§ MR. SLOANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain why the corporation gas accounts of the Belfast County Borough for the year ending 31st March, 1903, have not yet been audited, and why the Local Government Board for Ireland has demanded the sum of £50 from the corporation for audit fees for examining the corporation gas accounts, the work not having been performed.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The audit of the general accounts of the corporation for the year ended 31st March 1903 was completed last December. The gas accounts are not included in the general accounts, and are always audited independently of the latter. The audit of the gas accounts will be undertaken as soon as possible. No demand has been made for the sum mentioned in respect of the audit of the gas accounts. This sum represents the balance of the fees due for the audit of the general accounts of the borough council.