§ Mr. LANSBURY (by Private Notice)asked the Minister of Health on how many occasions during the existence of the London County Council have members of that body been surcharged by the Public Auditor for illegal expenditure; on how many occasions has the council appealed to the Ministry and obtained remission of the surcharge; on bow any occasions has the council appealed direct to the Courts; and the number of times the Courts decided against the council and the occasions on which the Ministry remitted the surcharge after the Courts had decided the surcharge was legal?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have not particulars of the surcharges, if any, which have not been the subject of appeal; but the number of cases in which appeal has been made by members of the London County Council who have been surcharged by the District Auditor for illegal expenditure is three. In two of these cases they obtained remission of the surcharge, and in the third case the Minister discharged the disallowance on the merits without deciding the legal question; the effect 833 being to leave the item as charged in the accounts. The council appealed direct to the Courts in two cases, namely, the first two of those mentioned above. In both these cases the Courts decided against the council and the Minister remitted the surcharges.
§ Mr. LANSBURYCan the right hon. Gentleman say what was the amount that was involved in the remittances in the last two cases?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have not the information with me, but the last item was a small one. I think it was between £200 and £300. I think the item before that was about £2,500.