§ SIR SYDNEY WATERLOWasked the Secretary of State for the Homo Department, Whether his attention has 815 been called to the Midland Railway (Additional Powers) Bill, by which the Midland Railway Company propose to take possession and appropriate to their purposes about fourteen acres of small houses in Somers Town, Saint Pancras, almost entirely occupied by the labouring population, without making any Return of the number of families to be evicted, or setting aside any of the land for the reconstruction of houses for the working classes, as required by Parliament on the passing of the Metropolitan Streets Improvement Act. 1872?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSSir, my attention has been called to the Bill which was brought in by the Midland Railway Company, and I have received a communication from the solicitor to the company. I am happy to say that the company have consented to strike out of the Bill the provision relating to the land on which the houses referred to by the hon. Baronet are built. Therefore, that part of the Bill will not be proceeded with at all this Session; and, if they bring in a Bill in the course of another Session, they undertake to ask for compulsory powers in the event of their wishing to have the land, so that they will be brought practically under the Standing Orders Committee of "another place."