§ 59. Major Procterasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the Buxton Corporation recently undertook to pay to the Old Vic Company for its services at the 1937 local festival the sum of £2,125 for salaries, plus all cartage charges, half the cost of lighting, and all the cost of advertising and theatre staff, he will investigate whether this arrangement is in accordance with the powers under the Buxton Corporation Act, 1927, whereby no loss may be occasioned to the ratepayers by such promotion of stage plays; and what control he exercises to ensure that only legitimate use is made of powers possessed by municipalities in the provison of entertainment?
§ Sir K. WoodI have no power to order in the present case such an investigation as is referred to in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, the appropriate form of control would appear to be that of audit, or of action taken by an aggrieved ratepayer. In general, I have no powers or responsibilty except in so far as the relevant accounts are subject to the district audit.
§ Major ProcterIn view of rising municipal expenditure, will my right hon. Friend see that municipalities do not engage in businesses which compete with the ratepayers?
§ Sir K. WoodI have no power of that character.