§ 66. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has refused to assent to the proposal made by the London County Council to delegate its powers of making closing orders under the Shops Act to London borough councils; and, if so, whether his reason for so refusing is the fact that, under the Act of 1904, such borough councils, in the proper exercise of their discretion, abstained in most cases from making closing orders to which the public were opposed?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Ellis Griffith)Yes, Sir, the Home Secretary has felt unable to give his approval to the proposal of the county council, as it would have wholly reversed the decision of Parliament last year to transfer the administration of the Acts from the borough councils to the county council. The ground for the decision was that the difficulty caused by adjacent and competing areas being under the jurisdiction of different councils made it almost impossible to obtain closing orders, and the 1443 change was pressed on the Government by associations of the shopkeepers themselves.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONHas any alternative scheme been presented to the Home Office? If not, do they propose one themselves?
§ Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITHI am not aware of that. Any schemes that are brought before us, will, of course, be considered.