§ 34. Mr. LUNNasked the Minister of Health whether he has received the Report of the inspector who recently inquired into the Leeds and Bradford extension schemes; and whether he will call into consultation the Members of Parliament for the areas concerned before deciding on the merits arising out of these inquiries?
§ Sir A. MONDI have not yet received the Report referred to in the first part of the question. As regards the second part of the question, a public inquiry has been held as provided by the Act, 1859 at which all parties were present, and I could not now properly discuss the merits of the proposals separately with those who may support either one side or the other.
§ Mr. LUNNIf before deciding in favour of any extension of borough boundaries will the right hon. Gentleman set up a Committee to deal with the whole question?
§ Sir A. MONDFollowing the statute a public inquiry has been held, and everyone who has been desirous of giving evidence has been able to do so. Obviously, I must be guided by the Report of the inspector who held the inquiry, and I cannot start de novo outside the statutory powers another inquiry of an entirely informal character.
§ Mr. BARRANDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that one result of these inquiries has already been to intensify greatly the opposition to these schemes on the part of those concerned and to convince them that there is no sort of justification for these attempts to deprive them of their independent existence?
§ Sir A. MONDI have no doubt that the inspector holding the inquiry has taken that into account in preparing his Report.