§ MR. SIMON (Essex, Walthamstow)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether a request was received by the Local Government Board from the Woodford Urban District Council for the issue of a Provisional Order authorising the provision of a joint hospital for the districts of Woodford and Wanstead; if so, what was the date of the request; when were the preliminary formalities complied with; when was the local inquiry held; did the Board decide to issue a Provisional Order; if so, when was that decision arrived at; and what is the explanation of the delay in communicating this decision to the local authority and in carrying the decision out into law.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSThe original application for the Provisional Order came from both the Woodford and Wanstead Urban District Councils, and was made in February, 1902. The Local Government Board directed an inquiry to be held, but at the instance of the Wanstead District Council it was deferred to enable the parties to agree on the terms of the proposed Order. They failed, however, to agree, and ultimately the Wanstead Urban District Council withdrew their application. Some action was taken by the Essex County Council with a view to forming a hospital district and, with the concurrence of the Woodford District Council, the inquiry as to the Provisional Order was postponed pending the decision of the county council on this scheme, and it was not until the autumn of 1904 that the case was 720 ready for an inquiry as to the Provisional Order to be held. It took place on November 30th, 1904. After the inquiry the Board had some correspondence with the parties, but there was considerable opposition to the proposal and no definite decision was arrived at. The case has recently been again under consideration. There are difficulties with regard to it, but a communication will very shortly be made to the local authorities definitely deciding the matter.