§ MR. ALDERMAN COTTONasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he will withhold his sanction for the Metropolitan Asylum Board to erect a Small Pox Hospital for Convalescents, and for patients suffering from the disease in a mild form, at Darenth, near Dartford, Kent; and, whether he is aware that such Hospital would, if erected, be in a large residential locality, and also in close proximity to the following institutions:—The City of London Asylum for Imbeciles; the Kent Penitentiary; the St. Vincent Industrial 536 Schools; and the Metropolitan District Asylum?
MR. GEORGE RUSSELLMy right hon. Friend (Sir Charles W. Dilke) has requested me to answer this Question. The Board, after full consideration of the circumstances, expressed their general approval of the proposal of the managers of the Asylum District to purchase 130 acres of land at Darenth for the purpose of the erection of a hospital; and the Board are aware of no sufficient reason for withholding their formal sanction to the purchase. The information before the Board does not support the statement that the hospital, if erected, would be in the midst of a large residential locality; and, with regard to the Institutions which it is stated would be in close proximity to the hospital, the Kent Penitentiary is about three-quarters of a mile from the land on which the hospital is proposed to be erected; the City of London Pauper Lunatic Asylum about a mile and a quarter; and the St. Vincent Industrial Schools at a distance of about two miles. The Metropolitan District Asylum is nearer; but there will be a largo bolt of land separating the two Institutions, and it is to be observed that both will be under the same Board of Managers.