§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, considering the serious accusations of sanitary and other structural defects recently made against buildings erected by the London School Board, Government will give facilities for the consideration of the Sanitary Registration of Buildings Bill now before the House, or will themselves introduce a Bill to prevent the use of schools and other new public buildings until their fitness for sanitary occupation has been certified by some competent authority?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHThe Government cannot undertake to give any exceptional facilities for the consideration of the Sanitary Registration of Buildings Bill, nor can they at present give any under-taking to introduce a Bill to prevent the use of schools and public buildings until their sanitary fitness for occupation has been certified. The granting of certificates as to the sanitary fitness of premises is not unattended with risk, unless the duty of examination is exercised with great care and under circumstances which admit of a proper examination being made. Any certificate as to sanitary condition would be regarded as relieving 1536 from responsibility, as regards sanitary arrangements, those on whom the responsibility should rest.