§ Mr. HODGEasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the heavy expense which is entailed on local authorities, and especially smaller local authorities, in resisting applications for extensions of boundaries of large county boroughs and to the fact that the larger and often the more unreasonable the extension sought the heavier is the expense to these local authorities, he can take steps whereby, in the event of any such application being unsuccessful as regards any local area, the expenses of the local authority of that area incurred in resisting the application shall be paid by the body who put them to this expense by seeking an extension of boundary which has proved to be unreasonable?
§ Dr. ADDISONIt has not hitherto been thought practicable to adopt the course suggested in the question, but I am considering what measures can be taken for simplifying and cheapening the procedure in those cases.