HC Deb 20 August 1889 vol 339 cc1747-9
THE MARQUESS OF GRANBY (Leicester, Melton)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the recent severe outbreak of typhoid fever in the West End of London, especially in the parish of St. George, Hanover Square, and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the matter; whether he is aware that it is stated that the sanitary arrangements of the St. George's Vestry are very deficient, especially with regard to the proper and adequate flushing of the sewers and main drains of that parish; and whether it is in the power of the Local Government Board to institute any inquiry on this point?

* MR. RITCHIE

My attention has been called to the outbreak of typhoid fever in the West End of London, and especially in the parish of St. George, Hanover Square. I have communicated with the vestry of that parish, and I am assured that they have a constant staff of men flushing the sewers at a large cost, and that the London County Council also have a staff of flushers for the purpose of flushing their main sewer. I have also received a provisional report from Dr. Corfield, the Medical Officer of Health of the parish, from which it appears that the outbreak took place almost entirely in the Mayfair sub-district. There were 14 houses in the parish where there had been cases. The outbreak was limited to houses of the better class, including some of the largest houses in the parish, and from the uniformity in the date of the attacks, and the fact that the sanitary arrangements of most of the houses where the cases occurred have been carefully carried out, the Medical Officer of Health has come to the conclusion that the outbreak was not due to any defect of sanitary arrangements, but to some temporary cause which has apparently ceased to operate. I have determined to direct an inquiry by one of the Inspectors of the Board.

MR. ISAACSON (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)

I wish to ask whether it is the owner or the tenant who is liable for the sanitary condition of his house? I happen to live opposite a house where a case of typhoid occurred [Cries of "Order!"]—it is a very serious matter—and before I resided there there were five open cesspools, and I had to cart away 500 loads of soil—

* MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member is not entitled to make a statement.

MR. ISAACSON

Then may I be allowed to ask whether it is the owner or the tenant who is liable for the sanitary condition of the premises?

* MR. RITCHIE

The liability depends entirely upon the terms of the lease. Generally speaking, I should say the tenant is liable.

MR. ISAACSON

If that is the case ought not the Sanitary Inspector to be compelled to make annual visits to infected houses to see whether the owners or tenants keep them in a proper sanitary condition?

* MR. RITCHIE

I am afraid that it is rather a large order to say that the Sanitary Authority should be bound to visit these premises annually or send Inspectors to see that they are in a proper sanitary condition.