§ DR. MACNAMARAI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, if any municipal authority, the London County Council, or any provincial council, being a local education authority under the Education Acts of 1902 and 1903 desire at any time to increase its membership with a view to the better control of the public education in its area, it would be competent to do so under any existing statute or statutes; and, if so, whether he will indicate such statute or statutes, and state further the course which such municipal authority would need to pursue.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BORNS,) BatterseaThe local bodies referred to cannot themselves alter the number of their members. The number of members of the London County Council is fixed by the Local Government Act, 1888, and legislation would probably be necessary to alter it. The number of members of any other county council could be altered by the Local Government Board on a representation under Section 54 of the Act, and a county council can alter the number of members of the council of any urban district other than a borough. The number of members of a town council cannot usually be altered, unless in connection with an alteration of the borough or its division into wards.