§ * MR. REESI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether it is proposed to accept the recommendation of the Select Committee on the Housing of the Working Classes Acts Amendment Bill to transfer the administration of the Public Health and Housing Law from the rural district councils to the county councils; if so, whether he is aware that the withdrawal of such functions from such rural district councils is regarded as a retrograde measure, opposed to the principles of local self-government; and whether he will call for Reports from rural district councils before acting upon such recommendation.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) )BatterseaThe recommendation of the Committee is of course receiving my consideration in connection with the Bill I propose to introduce in relation to the Housing of the Working Classes, but pending the introduction of the Bill, I cannot give any intimation of the course I think should be taken with regard to this matter. I may, however, state that a considerable number of rural district councils have made representations to me against the recommendation, and that the Executive Committee of the Rural District Councils Association are collecting information from the rural councils, some of which they have already laid before me.
§ * MR. REESIn drafting his Bill will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether the transfer should not be made contingent on the efficiency or inefficiency of the rural district council in each case.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI will consider that suggestion.