§ MR. BROADHURSTasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he can inform the House of the number of canal boats, barges, and flats that have been registered under "The Canal Boats Act, 1877;" whether the Government intends taking any steps this Session for enforcing those Clauses of the Act relating to overcrowding in the cabins of these boats; and, also, whether he can state to what extent the Educational Clauses of the Act have been successful?
§ MR. DODSONSir, there has been no Return of the number of boats registered since that of July, 1879, which showed that about 5,000 boats had been registered. The enforcement of the Act rests with the local authorities, and the Local Government Board have no power to compel them to discharge that duty, their power being limited to making regulations, which they have done. At present the Board have no information as to the extent to which the education clauses of the Act have been successful.