§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the President of the Local Government Board whether the West Riding Rivers Board, in order to. administer The West Riding of Yorkshire Rivers Act, 1894, applied to him, upon the 6th January, 1908, in two cases, upon' the 21st February, 1908, in one case, upon the 10th April, 1908, in four cases, upon the 20th July, 1908, in two cases, and on the 19th February, 1900, in one case, under. section 6 of the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1876, for his sanction to take proceedings for alleged pollution of river or stream; whether he will say in which of these cases he has decided to grant of to withhold such sanction; and when he will acquaint the Rivers Board of his definite decisions concerning the remainder, if any?
§ Mr. BURNSThe facts are substantially as stated in the question. In two of the cases referred to local inquiries have been directed. As regards three of the cases of April, 1908, the Local Government Board are not at present satisfied' that consent could properly be given to-proceedings, and a communication will be 201W addressed to the Rivers Board on the subject. As regards the remaining cases, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the question he put to me on the 10th instant.
§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he, can say upon what date he intimated to the West Riding Rivers Board that he could not sanction proceedings to be taken under section 6 of the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1876, in the two cases submitted to him upon the 29th July, 1907; and upon what dates, and where, were the local inquiries held upon which he based his decisions?
§ Mr. BURNSA local inquiry was not held with regard to these cases. I have not formally intimated to the Rivers Board the view entertained by the Local Government Board with respect to them, to which I referred in the answer I gave to the question put to me on this subject last week. I will, however, communicate with them on the matter.