HC Deb 22 March 1928 vol 215 cc535-7
30. Sir HENRY CAUTLEY

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the effect of the East Sussex (Fulking and Poynings) Confirmation Order, 1928, dated 9th February, 1928, whereby the parishes of Fulking and Poynings are transferred from the rural district of Steyning East to and become part of the rural district of Cuckfield, but are still left in the Steyning Union, and not transferred to and made to form part of the Cuckfield Union, is that the members of the Cuckfield Rural District Council for these two parishes will have to attend the meetings of both the Steyning Board of Guardians and the Cuckfield Board of Guardians; that they decline to attend meetings of both boards of guardians, and that at the end of each six months either the clerk to the Cuckfield Rural District Council will have to report to the clerk of the Steyning Board of Guardians or the clerk to the Steyning Board of Guardians will have to report to the clerk of the Cuckfield Rural District Council that there is a vacancy in these parishes through non-attendance, thus causing casual vacancies and cost of re-elections every six months; that the present position requires, first, a general rate to be levied over the whole of the Cuckfield Rural District Council, secondly, a special rate to be levied on the parishes of Fulking and Poynings to meet the precept of the Steyning Board of Guardians, and thirdly, a special rate to be levied on the remainder of the Cuckfield Rural District Council to meet the precept of the Cuckfield Board of Guardians; and whether he can see his way to putting an end to these inconveniences by amending the Confirmation Order and transferring the two parishes from the Steyning Union to the Cuckfield Union?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Yes, Sir. I had no alternative but to make this Confirming Order in the absence of a petition for disallowance, and an Order of this kind, which is made under Section 57 of the Local Government Act, 1888, cannot extend to the transfer of parishes for Poor Law purposes. As a matter of fact, no objection to the present arrangements has previously been submitted to me. I shall be prepared to consider any representations which the guardians may wish to make in the matter.

Sir H. CAUTLEY

Do I understand the Minister has the power, if the guardians make representations, and that he will exercise that power?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I have the power, but I could not undertake to exercise it until I know what the representations are.