§ MR. FIRTHasked the President of he Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called to the proceedings of the Clerkenwell Vestry, as reported in The Islington Gazette of April 29th, and to the statement of the Chairman of the Sanitary Committee that, in that parish, there were houses of the poor which were a disgrace to civilisation, and that the places reported by the medical officer as clean were putrid and black; whether such statement was true; whether it is true, as stated, that the sanitary inspectors have neglected their duty; whether the Vestry declined to accept the recommendations of the Sanitary Committee; and, what he proposes to do in the matter?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI have no official knowledge of the facts reported, but believe that the report is accurate. I was already aware that the Sanitary Committee by a majority, and their Chairman, hold the view which I formed myself in November and December last on repeated inspection of the parish. The Vestry have, on former occasions, declined by a majority to accept various recommendations of the Sanitary Committee. On the recent occa- 1170 sion they appear to have adjourned the question. I have no power over the Vestry; but, as Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Housing of the Working Classes, I called the attention of my Colleagues to the matter, and the Chairman of the Sanitary Committee has been examined by the Commission.