§ MR. COBB (Warwick, S.E., Rugby)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether there is any special reason for the continued delay in arranging and carrying out the drainage scheme at Harrow Weald; and whether he will call the serious attention of the Hendon Rural Sanitary Authority to the subject, and urge upon them the importance of getting the plans settled and the drainage works proceeded with?
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE, Tower Hamlets, St. George's)The 1745 Local Government Board, on the 8th of June last, communicated with the Rural Sanitary Authority of the Hendon Union with regard to their proposal to borrow for the execution of sewerage works for Harrow Weald. In consequence of suggestions at the inquiry some revision of the original scheme was made, and the Board advised the adoption of these alterations. The Board informed the Sanitary Authority that they did not consider that they could authorise a loan for any works which would increase the amount of sewage delivered upon the existing sewage farm until they were satisfied that no nuisance would be created, and that the effluent would at all times be properly purified before its discharge into the Kenton Brook. The Board accordingly requested that steps might be taken for the acquisition of additional land, and stated that when this had been done they would be prepared to entertain an application for borrowing powers in respect of the revised scheme. The Board were not informed of the result of the consideration of this communication until the Sanitary Authority were again communicated with with reference to the question of the hon. Member. I am now informed that the delay which has taken place has arisen in consequence of the negotiations for the hiring or purchase of adjoining land for the purpose of the sewage farm. I will urge the authority to secure a settlement of these matters at as early a date as possible.