§ Mr. TURTONasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many county boroughs which have incurred heavy expenditure, with corresponding high rates, are putting forward proposals for extension; and whether he will suspend all such proposals until Parliament has caused a full inquiry by a Royal Commission or Joint Committee of both Houses into the whole question of the future of county council and county borough administration?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am afraid that at the present time I can only refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to similar questions on the 18th and 22nd of December last.
§ Mr. TURTONasked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared, in cases of local inquiries into the question of the extension of boundaries, to set up, in lieu of an inspector, a travelling tribunal so as to obtain uniformity of policy?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe hon. Member's proposal of a travelling tribunal is not possible, as Parliament has vested the responsibility in the Minister, not in the officials who only hold the inquiries and make a report to him.
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§ Mr. TURTONasked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the cost of local inquiries, amounting in one case to £7,000, he will prohibit the employment of counsel, and otherwise limit expenditure in such cases?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am most anxious to reduce to the lowest possible limit the expenditure incurred in connection with local inquiries on the employment of counsel and experts. The proposal of the hon. Member would require legislation but I am considering it with other suggestions.