HC Deb 26 June 1916 vol 83 cc518-20
39. Mr. BUTLER LLOYD

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the fact that the Statutory Committee (Naval and Military War Pensions, etc., Act, 1915) have refused to allow Shrewsbury to set up a separate local committee, in spite of a unanimous resolution of the town council and of all friendly societies and labour associations in the borough humbly asking for this; and whether he will give instructions that this decision shall be reversed in the case of Shrewsbury and other town and urban district councils of a similar nature, or take such steps as may be necessary to so alter the powers delegated to the Statutory Committee as to prevent the boroughs being entirely deprived of the privilege accorded them by Section 2, Sub-section (1), of the Act of having a local committee established in boroughs and urban districts on the application of the council thereof?

41. Mr. R. NcNEILL

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that the War Pensions Statutory Committee has refused a request of the borough of Folkestone that a local committee for the borough be established under the provisions of the Naval and Military War Pensions Act, 1915; that Folkestone has a population of 35,000, and is a military centre from which some 4,000 men, many of whom are married, have joined the Army; that many boroughs with a smaller population than Folkestone have been granted local committees; and if he will bring pressure to bear on the Statutory Committee to reconsider their decision as regards Folkestone, especially in view of the fact that the circumstances of the town differ in many respects from those in other parts of the county of Kent, and that a local committee would better appreciate the position of applicants in the town than a county committee?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARd (Mr. Hayes Fisher)

It is the case that the War Pensions, etc., Statutory Committee have not assented to the formation of separate local committees under the Act of 1915 for the boroughs of Shrewsbury and Folkestone. I would point out that the Act does not confer upon either of these places a right to a separate local committee on the application of the town council. Under Section 2 (1) a separate local committee can only be established for a borough with a population of less than 50,000 if the Statutory Committee consider this desirable, having regard to the special circumstances of the case. As regards neither of the two places referred to did the Statutory Committee consider that there were such special circumstances as to render a separate local committee desirable, and hence they did not feel themselves able to assent to the application. My right hon. Friend does not consider that the matter is one in which he could interfere, as he has no control over the Statutory Committee. I may add that at the instance of the Statutory Committee the Salop County Council have included in their scheme establishing a local committee for the county special provisions for the representation of Shrewsbury on the local committee, and that the Statutory Committee have suggested to the Kent County Council to recommend the county local committee to consider the question of forming a special sub-committee for the borough of Folkestone together, possibly, with some adjoining area which could be suitably administered with it.

Mr. McNEILL

Do I understand from my right hon. Friend that he is prepared to use his influence on the Statutory Committee in order to get these local committees appointed?

Mr. HAYES FISHER

I hope nothing I have said will lead my hon. Friend to think that I shall use my influence one way or the other.

Mr. McNEILL

In that case why does the right hon. Gentleman give me a long, answer which has given me no information that I had not before?

Mr. J. SAMUEL

Was it not the intention of this House, when this matter was under discussion, that special considerations should be given to important towns like these?

Mr. HAYES FISHER

My hon. Friend is as1 able as myself to judge of the discission.