§ MR. DELANYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether lie will state the number and date of the communications which invited opinion on the Public Bodies Order, 1904, from the local public bodies in Ireland; and whether he will say what number of such public bodies have expressed approval of the new Order, giving names and dates of such approval.
§ MR. WALTER LONGCopies of the Order were sent on the 5th September 967 last to each of the thirty-three county councils and to each of the six councils of county boroughs and on the 7th November copies were sent to the clerks of thirty-three of the principal urban district councils. Subsequently, at varying dates, copies were sent to all other officers of local authorities who applied for them. The Order having been made under the authority and by direction of Parliament, the Local Government Board did not require the local authorities to express approval or disapproval of the draft. It was laid before them in draft for the purpose of affording them an opportunity of making any suggestions and criticisms which occurred to them. No objections were made to the issue of the Order, but, on the contrary, many valuable suggestions were received and carefully considered, the large proportion of which were adopted by the Board.
§ MR. DELANYCan the right hon. Gentleman mention any one public body in Ireland which approved the Order?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI have said no objections were made, but suggestions were sent in and have been acted upon.