§ 25. Mr. TURTONasked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take with reference to the Doncaster Provisional Order, having regard to his decision to advise the setting up of a Royal Commission to consider the question of borough extensions in the counties and the constitution of county boroughs?
§ Sir A. MONDThe proposed appointment of a Royal Commission was not intended to prejudice cases now under consideration, and as I understand that the town council are anxious to proceed with this Bill, which has now passed through Committee, I think that the question of its further progress should be left to the decision of the House.
§ Mr. TURTONWhen the right hon. Baronet announced the decision of the Government to set up a Royal Commission, did he not state that in the interval we must call a halt, and did he not at the same time give notice that no contentious proposals for the creation of county boroughs would be entertained by the Ministry, and is he not aware that this is a very contentious proposal, and will he explain his illogical and contradictory answer?
§ Sir A. MONDMy answer was neither illogical nor contradictory. I said the 2049 Ministry will not accept, till the Royal Commission has reported, any more contentious business. This Bill has passed from the purview of the Ministry. What I intended to safeguard was application being made to the Ministry for further Provisional Orders. I never intended that a Bill which this House has accepted on Second Reading and in Committee should be subsequently withdrawn without the House having an opportunity of dealing with it rather than myself.