§ 62. Sir Gifford Foxasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the extent to which local authorities are dealing with and circulating resolutions which are quite unconnected with their local government business; and whether, since the money entailed in this procedure comes out of the' rates, he will consider circularising local authorities with a view to confining their expressions of opinion to matters coming immediately within the scope of their normal activities?
§ Sir K. WoodI have no evidence that the practice of which my hon. Friend complains is growing. If a local authority incurs expenditure upon purposes outside its statutory functions, this can be dealt with by the auditor, if the expenditure can be identified in accounts which come before him. I do not think it is necessary for me to issue any statement, but my hon. Friend's question and my answer will, no doubt, call attention to the matter.