§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he will direct that the Report of Dr. Rawlinson, made to the Board of Inland Revenue after his inspection of the office occupied by the Legacy Duty Department in 1880, be printed and laid upon. the Table of the House; and, if ho will undertake that this Report, as well as the Report from the Medical Officer to the Inland Revenue Office, will be referred to in connection with any application to the Treasury made by gentlemen in the Legacy Duty Office on account of injury to health through being located in the basement offices at Somerset House?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)In December, 1879, Mr. Herries, then Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, believing that the sanitary arrangements of the Legacy Duty Department in Somerset House were unsatisfactory, applied to Mr. Sclater-Booth, and asked him to recommend some high authority, whose advice might be taken on the question. Mr. Sclater-Booth recommended Mr. Rawlinson, who, on being consulted, deputed Mr. Griffith, a distinguished civil engineer, to examine the buildings. Mr. Griffith, on the 13th of January, 1880, made a preliminary Report, which Mr. Rawlinson forwarded to Mr. Herries on the 28th of January, with the following letter from himself:—
Herewith I send a tracing and Report by Mr. Griffith on the drainage of part of Somerset House. I think the facts, so far known, should be stated; but you will note that this Report is a mere brief sketch. A full Report will require plans, sections, details, and estimates; but 1139 unless the suggested improvements can be carried out the work and cost will be wasted. I personally feel so convinced that injury to health must, and does, arise from the defective drainage and ventilation that I consider the work necessary to health should be done at any cost.That was the only Report that was made; and as it was addressed to Mr. Rawlinson, and was described by him as a "mere brief sketch," it does not appear to me to be of a nature to be laid on the Table. I will, however, State to the House fully the steps which were taken in the matter. The day after he had received Mr. Rawlinson's letters, Mr. Herries communicated with the Office of Works, and requested immediate attention. The Office of Works at once obtained the sanction of the Treasury for the thorough examination of the sanitary arrangements of the whole of Somerset House. The work of revision was commenced in April, 1880, and was not finished till the autumn of 1881. No expense was spared, and the result is believed to be satisfactory. With regard to the second part of the noble Lord's Question, I have only to say that, as the noble Lord is probably aware, all attendant circumstances are carefully considered whenever any application is made to the Treasury on account of injury to health.