§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary whether, in connection with a Local Government inquiry touching a scheme promoted by the Whitehouse Urban District Council seeking four additional representatives on the Poor Law union of Belfast district, held in Belfast on Wednesday, 13th April, any public announcement, by advertisement or otherwise, was given; whether, in view of the fact that it was suggested by such scheme to add six additional representatives to the Belfast area, a matter affecting the rights of the citizens of Belfast and ratepayers, he will consider it advisable to order a new inquiry in order that due public intimation may be given to those affected by the proposed change; whether the Local Government Board has power or authority to alter or amend the existing scale of representation which has been specially fixed by the Belfast Municipal Act of 1896; and whether, seeing that the Report of the Poor Law Commission embodies recommendations favouring a decrease in the scale of representation on Poor Law unions, and also against the system of co-option, he will consider the advisability of directing the Local Government Board not to proceed further at present with regard to the subject matter of the inquiry referred to?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe inquiry referred to was held last Wednesday, and the inspector's Report was only received this morning by the Local Government Board, who have not yet had time to consider it. I am not, therefore, at present in a position to deal with the several matters referred to in the question.