§ 34. Captain Earl WINTERTONasked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that, despite the recent appeals of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a vast number of local authorities throughout the country have made no effort to cut 1660 down their peace time expenditure, and that money is being spent on tar-paving of school playgrounds, a provision of motor cars for surveyors and architects, street improvements, bands, bandstands, and many other objects not essential to sanitation and public health; and whether, in view of the admitted inability of the members of these bodies to realise the need of war economy and the power-lessness of the Legislature to control them effectually, he will introduce legislation to curtail drastically their spending powers during the period of the War?
§ Mr. J. SAMUELBefore this question is answered, may I ask whether the Noble Lord is in a position to know what local authorities are doing at present in this respect?
§ Mr. LONGI am aware that in some cases expenditure is still being incurred which it not absolutely necessary, but I am doing my best to check it. I do not think it is necessary to introduce legislation for the purpose.