98. Mr. F. HALLasked the President of the Local Government Board if the Willesden Urban District Council have applied for a charter of incorporation; if the request has been refused, and, if so, will he state the grounds for such refusal; what is the present population and the rateable value of Willesden; and what is the population and rateable value of the smallest area which has been incorporated with the sanction of the Local Government Board since 1906?
§ Mr. McKENNA (for Mr. Burns)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I understand from the Privy Council Office that a petition of certain inhabitant householders of the parish and urban district of Willesden for the grant of a municipal charter of incorporation was presented to the King in Council in March, 1909, and was refused on the ground that the evidence before the Committee of Council, to whom the matter was referred, did not show that a majority of the whole of the inhabitant householders of the parish and urban district was in favour of the grant. The present population of Willesden is 158,863, and the rateable value £893,725. The smallest area incorporated since 1906 is Wallasey, which had a population of 67,000 and a rateable value of £466,120 at the time of incorporation.