§ Mr. RENDALLasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that a member of the Thornbury (Gloucestershire) District Council has lately been employed by the council to do certain work at Tytherington; whether the council has paid such member £10 for such work; whether he will address any communication to the council on this matter; and what, if any, results follow from such breach of the law?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)I am afraid I can only refer my hon. Friend to the provisions of Section 46 of the Local Government Act, 1894. Subject to the exceptions specified in that section, a person is disqualified for being a member of a district council who is concerned in any 351 bargain or contract entered into with the council, or participates in the profit of any such bargain or contract, or of any work done under the authority of the council. As any question arising under this section can only be determined in a court of law the Board have found it necessary to make a rule not to intervene in such matters.