SIR E. ASSHETON CROSSasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been drawn to the evidence given before the Committee on Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings, 1881–2, as to want of sanitary regulations with regard to the erection of such dwellings in the Metropolis outside the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Board; and, whether he will consider the advisability of giving further statutory powers to the local authorities?
§ MR. DODSONI have referred to the evidence upon which the Artizans' Committee based the recommendations that many of the sanitary provisions of the Metropolitan Building Act should be extended to the suburbs, and I presume it is to this evidence that the right hon. Gentleman alludes. If so, I may point out that under the Public Health Act, 1875, all urban sanitary authorities are empowered to make bye-laws prescribing sanitary regulations with regard to the erection of dwellings, and any rural sanitary authority can have this power conferred on them. In this way sanitary authorities in the suburbs can make provisions in some respects even more stringent than those contained in the Metropolitan Building Acts; and in many cases not only have the sanitary authorities made bye-laws, but they have shown commendable zeal in enforcing them. I am not prepared to say, therefore, that it is necessary to give further powers to sanitary authorities on this subject; but I will consider the matter during the Recess.
§ SIR R. ASSHETON CROSSsaid, he hoped the right hon. Gentleman would draw the attention of the local autho- 381 rities to the powers they possessed. There could be no doubt that wretched buildings were being put up.