§ MR. FAWCETTasked the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, in 963 reference to his statement that a Committee of the Board has been appointed to consider what amendments should be introduced into the "The Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings Act, 1875," with the view of diminishing the cost of carrying out that Act in the Metropolis, If he can inform the House when the Report of that Committee will be presented to the Home Secretary; and, whether, as the cost to the Metropolitan Ratepayers of clearing six sites will be £562,061, he can undertake that the other sites which have been cleared shall not be disposed of until the Report of the Committee has been laid before the Home Secretary, and it has been ascertained whether it is his intention to propose to amend the Act of 1875?
§ SIR JAMES M'GAREL-HOGGSir, I trust that the Metropolitan Board of Works will be in a position to make a representation to the Secretary of State on the subject of amendments of the Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings Act in the course of a week or two. With regard to the further disposal of sites, I may remind the hon. Member that of the six sites referred to by him only part of one has up to this time been actually cleared, and the Board are only now acquiring the interest in the remainder of the 14 which I alluded to in my reply on the 14th instant. The Home Secretary, therefore, will have full opportunity of considering the representations of the Board.
§ MR. FAWCETTasked, Whether the hon. Gentleman would give an undertaking that none of the other sites which had been cleared should be disposed of until the Report of the Committee had been laid before the Home Secretary, and it had been ascertained whether it was his intention to amend the Act of 1875?
§ SIR JAMES M'GAREL-HOGGsaid, he would rather consult his Board before pledging them on the matter.
§ MR. FAWCETTsaid, he would on that day week put the Question to the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board, after he had had an opportunity of consulting his Colleagues.
MR. ASSHETON CROSSsaid, perhaps he might be allowed to state that it had been under his consideration for some time whether anything could be done to lessen the expense of carrying out the Artizans' and Labourers' Dwell- 964 ings Act. With respect to the machinery of that Act, he hoped even in this Session to produce a short Bill to lessen the expense.