HC Deb 07 April 1921 vol 140 cc487-8W
Sir J. BUTCHER

asked the Attorney-General whether a member of a county council is debarred from discussing or voting on a drainage scheme affecting some hundreds of thousands of acres of land by reason of the fact that he himself owns some portion of land which is or may be affected by the scheme?

Sir G. HEWART

Section 22 (3) of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1882 (45 & 46 Vic., c. 50), which is applied to county councils by Section 75 of the Local Government Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Vict., c. 41), provides thata member of the council shall not vote or take part in the discussion of any matter before the council, or a committee, in which he has, directly or indirectly, by himself or by his partner, any pecuniary interest. The question whether such an interest exists is in each case a question of fact, and I think that the facts here outlined are sufficient to debar the member referred to from discussing or voting on the scheme.