§ MR. FAWCETTasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it is the case, as stated in the "Sanitary Record" of the 16th May, that a report has been made to the Treasury by the Office of Works on the defective sanitary arrangements of the Tea and East India Department Offices in the Custom House; and, if so, whether the Treasury intend taking any action in the matter?
§ SIR HENRY SELWIN-IBBETSON, in reply, said, the improvements suggested by a Report made in May, 1878, on the Tea Department at the Custom House had been carried out. After the Estimates for this year had been prepared—in fact, only on the 18th of April—a fresh application was made for improved accommodation in that Department, in which the statement was again made of unhealthiness. As this fresh application appeared to have been made more with a view to providing extra comfort than an improvement in the sanitary condition, and as it was overcrowding rather than unhealthiness that had to be dealt with, the application had been postponed in order to avoid a Supplementary Estimate. He could assure the hon. Member that it would not be lost sight of in the preparation of next year's Estimates.