§ SIR HENRY ROSCOE (Manchester, S.)asked the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Whether it is a fact that the Metropolitan Low Level Sewer running down the Embankment possesses no ventilating shaft from the point at which the drainage of the Palace of Westminster passes into the low level sewer to a second point nearly 800 yards distant at York Gates; whether all competent authorities have laid down that every main sewer should have one ventilating shaft at least for every 100 yards of its length; and, whether, in this case, he will take steps to have the said sewer properly ventilated, and thus to remove much of the danger to the air of the House of Commons by reason of the passage of sewer gas from the low level sewer of the Metropolitan system into the main drain of the Palace?
§ SIR JAMES M'GAREL-HOGG (Middlesex, Hornsey)In reply to the hon. Member, I beg to say that there is no ventilating shaft on the low level sewer between the Houses of Parliament; but the Engineer of the Board, Sir Joseph Bazalgette, does not concur in the opinion that every main sewer should have a ventilating shaft for every 100 yards. This must be governed by the circumstances in each case; the main sewers, for instance, which have large quantities of water running through them want ventilation the least, and this was exemplified by actual experience on the 16th of April, when an examination of the low level sewer in the vicinity of the Houses of Parliament and of part of 1165 that draining the Houses showed that the low level sewer was almost free from smell, and had no air current or pressure of air in it, while, on the other hand, there was found to be a current of air upon opening a side entrance into the sewer, and foul smell was found to proceed from the sewer draining the Houses of Parliament which had no air current in it either way. Under these circumstances, I am not prepared to admit the necessity of additional ventilation in the low level sewer, the danger referred to arising, to all appearance, from the state of the sewer draining the Houses of Parliament; but at the same time I can assure the hon. Member that the Board will give careful consideration to any representation made to them on the subject.