§ MR. CAINEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he has seen the Return, No. 375, moved for by Mr. M'Laren,
Giving the number of Public Houses and Beerhouses respectively used as Brothels within the districts subjected to the Contagious Diseases Acts;if his attention has been called to the Return for 1881, on page 32 of that Return, where it is shown that in the town of Chatham there are eight licensed public houses known by the police to have been used as brothels for periods of from 12 to 17 years; and, since it appears from the same Return that the authorities of Chatham have never proceeded against these licensed public houses during the long periods in which they have been known to the police as brothels, if he will take steps to cause the provisions of the 35 and 36 Vic. c. 94, ss. 14 and 15, to be carried out?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTYes, Sir; I have seen the Return. The police have made representations to the local authorities, which I hope will put things upon a more satisfactory footing.