HC Deb 27 May 1909 vol 5 cc1464-5W
Mr. CROSSLEY

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will consider the advisability of cancelling an order made by the Board 'on 2nd September, 1908, in the case of an appeal by certain frontagers of a private street within the district of the Hale (Cheshire) Urban District Council; whether he is aware That such order was made under an erroneous understanding of the facts, especially so as the frontagers confined their appeal to two grounds, whilst the Board went beyond the terms of reference and granted total exemption of liability in respect to the whole of the unpaid sums, such items representing in some cases the whole of the surveyor's apportionments; and whether such steps will be taken, by legislation or otherwise, to amend the grievance of the ratepayers in this case and to prevent recurrences of a similar nature?

Mr. BURNS

I think my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in supposing that there has been any erroneous understanding of the facts of this case. The Order was made under section 268 of the. Public Health Act, 1875, and in dealing with an appeal under that section the Local Government Board are not limited to the grounds upon which the appeal is made. It does not appear to me that any question for legislation arises. Each case of the kind must be dealt with on the merits, and I do not think that in the present instance anything further is needed.