§ SIR ANDREW LUSKasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the serious mischief arising from the repeated overflows of sewage matter into the houses of many inhabitants of Holloway and other parts of the metropolis during the heavy rainfalls last year, stated to be owing to the 1279 insufficiency of the main drainage system; and, whether he could not bring his influence to bear on the Metropolitan Board of Works to provide some adequate relief in this matter to the districts referred to, so that public health and comfort may not be endangered?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, the Metropolitan Board of Works had taken the best advice they could obtain in regard to the best means of improving the sanitary condition of the Metropolis, and had laid down a valuable system of main drainage. The injury of which the hon. Member complained was principally caused by the flood of the storm water, which occasionally flooded the sewers and drove the sewage back into the houses. In some cases, he believed, the houses were not built on the proper levels. He had had communications addressed to him on this point, and he was himself now in communication with the Metropolitan Board of Works with a view to remedy the evil. At the present time he could say no more.