§ MR. E. STANHOPEasked the President of the Local Government Board, If it is the intention of the Royal Commission on the Dwellings of the Poor to hold sittings in any of the rural districts, or to appoint Assistant Commissioners to visit them?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe Royal Commission on the Housing of the Working Classes has already completed its inquiry into the condition of the rural districts of England and Wales. A large number of witnesses from various counties representing all interests have been examined, and Her Majesty's Commissioners have unanimously decided that there is no necessity to appoint Assistant Commissioners or to hold sittings in the Provinces. It may be interesting to the House if I say that besides one witness from each of the mining districts in Wales and Cornwall, there were three witnesses as to the gipsy population, and 16 witnesses were examined as to what may be considered the ordinary condition of affairs in the rural parts of the country.