§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONasked the Prime Minister why, in defiance of precedent, a Departmental Committee of the Treasury has been appointed to inquire into the measures to be taken to readjust the distribution of assigned revenues and grants among local authorities instead of a Select Committee of this House; whether his attention has been called to the correspondence between the Secretary to the Treasury and the London County Council as to the representation of the county of London upon the Departmental Committee; and what he proposes to do in order that the case of London may be properly considered?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Government, after careful consideration, came to the conclusion that a strong Departmental Committee was the body best fitted to undertake this inquiry. My attention has been called to the correspondence referred to, which appears to show on the part of the County Council a misapprehension of the functions of the Committee. There is no question of the representation thereon of particular interests or localities, nor is there any reason to fear that the case of London will not be fully and impartially considered.