§ Mr. BARRANDasked the Minister of Health if, in order to assist smaller districts threatened by annexation schemes such as those put forward by Leeds and Bradford and to save them from incurring heavy expenses in resisting such schemes, he will indicate the nature of the special reasons which would justify him in refusing or postponing an inquiry?
§ Dr. ADDISONWhile I cannot of course indicate what special reasons may arise in hypothetical cases I may say that in the past my predecessors have been led to refuse inquiries for such reasons as that—
and to postpone them because—
- (1) the sanitary condition of the borough proposing to extend was defective;
- (2) extension of the borough in the direction of the proposed added area was neither taking place nor likely to take place;
- (3) the representation was accompanied by financial conditions with which it was impossible to comply;
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- (1) sewerage questions required further consideration;
- (2) two boroughs desired to include the same area.
§ Mr. BARRANDasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the unfortunate effect which the extension proposals of Leeds and Bradford are having upon the housing schemes of the districts affected; whether he is aware that the uncertainty of their position and the doubt as to the extent of the expenditure in which they may be involved in resisting those proposals is interfering with and seriously hindering the provision of houses which are badly needed in those localities; and whether the urgent need for these houses constitutes a special reason why the extension proposals in question should be postponed until the necessary houses have been provided?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have no information to show that the proposed extensions of Leeds and Bradford are having any serious effect upon the progress of housing schemes in the districts which might be affected by such extensions, and I do not think that there is a case for postponing consideration of the proposals on the grounds suggested.