§ MR. CARLILE (Hertfordshire, St. Albans)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the Metropolitan Water Board have now 100 clerks more than were formerly employed by all the water companies whose concerns were absorbed by that Board; and whether the Metropolitan Water Board proposes shortly to make a call upon the rates for a contribution, whereas the water companies under the same conditions were able to pay their proprietors good dividends.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSThe facts are as stated in the first part of the Question. The increase in the number of officers of the Water Board is said to be due partly to extra clerical work, partly to the setting up of a department for the examination of water as required by the Metropolis Water Act, 1902, and partly to the fact that the staff of the Water Board now perform the legal and surveying work for which the companies employed outside firms. I understand, however, that the total annual amount of the salaries at present paid by the Water Board is about £5,000 less than that paid by the companies. I am not informed as to whether the Water Board propose to make a call upon the rates for a contribution.