§ MR. W. H. SMITHasked the President of the Local Government Board, If he is aware that the Smallpox Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board are full, and that persons suffering from smallpox are now lying in lodging-houses in crowded neighbourhoods, to the great danger of the other inhabitants; and, whether he will state what steps he proposes to take to provide the Asylums Board with the necessary powers to deal with the epidemic, and 276 with sufficient authority to carry out "The Metropolitan Poor Act, 1867?"
§ MR. DODSONI am sorry to say that the small-pox hospitals are full, or nearly so; but I have no information that persons suffering from small-pox are now lying in lodging-houses, although I fear such may probably be the case. I had hoped that supplementary provision would have been made by the Guardians and the Vestries and District Boards, and this, to some extent, has been done; but I regret to say that in other cases where exertions have been made to provide accommodation these exertions have been paralyzed by actual or threatened legal proceedings. At the same time, it is satisfactory to be able to state that the Metropolitan Asylum Managers are exerting themselves to the utmost to provide temporary accommodation on their property at Darenth for 300 or 400 convalescent patients, and this will afford considerable relief to the present hospitals. I may add that the Local Government Board is in communication with them respecting further immediate provision.