HC Deb 12 February 1929 vol 225 cc204-5
Mr. ARTHUR GREENWOOD

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any decision has been reached with respect to the pending guardians elections, and, if so, will he furnish the House with full information?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)

The only step so far taken has been to defer the elections the procedure for which would under the existing Order relating to the election of guardians begin on 1st March. As the Local Government Bill provides that no election of guardians shall be held after its coming into force and in view of the possibility of the Bill becoming law before the present guardians go out of office on the 15th April, it seems to me desirable, after consulting my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health, that the expense and trouble involved in holding elections which the passage of the Bill would render unnecessary should be avoided, if possible. I have accordingly made an Order which provides that the dates fixed in the existing Order shall not apply on the present occasion.

Mr. GREENWOOD

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether he is satisfied with the authority under which he is acting, and would he not have been better advised to have told the House first? Can the House be supplied with copies of the Order?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

This is not an Order which has to be laid on the Table of the House. I am satisfied as to my authority; I have consulted the authorities. I sent the Order yesterday to the clerks to the guardians and published it in the Press, and it is now available in the Vote Office.

Mr. MARDY JONES

What number of guardians will be affected by this decision?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I presume all the boards of guardians.

Mr. E. BROWN

What steps are being taken in case of vacancies occurring?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

That is provided for in the Bill. The point is that, if the Bill passes before Easter, as we hope it will, the considerable expenses which would be incurred in elections would be of no value.