§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he will consider the propriety of strengthening the law for regulating common lodging houses in the Metropolis, and of seeing that the provisions now in force are more fully carried out as regards inspection, registration, and over-crowding?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I am informed by the Police Authorities that the provisions of the existing law are fully carried out. There are officers specially appointed in every district of London to inspect the common lodging houses, and to enforce the existing Regulations against overcrowding and against insanitary conditions. The Regulations have proved, in the main, 1378 sufficient to prevent over-crowding and to secure cleanliness and order; but I think they are capable of being strengthened as regards the inspection of sanitary improvements, and I will consider that question carefully with the assistance of the Local Authority.
§ MR. HOWELLasked whether there were any Reports from these Inspectors which could be laid on the Table?
§ MR. MATTHEWSsaid, he did not think the Reports were in a form to be so produced.
§ MR. HOWELLasked whether many of the terrible outrages in the East End, not only recent, but those that had happened during the last few years, were not more or less associated with the common lodging houses?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI could not assent to that proposition in its general form.