§ MR. COHENI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the great difficulties experienced by the Metropolitan Asylums Board in obtaining a suitable site for an additional convalescent fever hospital; and whether, having regard to the great pressure upon the accommodation for the fever patients of London, he will state the considerations which guide the Local Government Board in deciding on the sites submitted by the Metropolitan Asylums Board, so as to avoid the delays which of late have resulted through the selection by the Metropolitan Board of sites not subsequently sanctioned by the Local Government Board?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERI am aware of the difficulties with which the managers of the Metropolitan Asylum district have to contend in connection with the provision of sites for infectious 100 hospitals for the Metropolis. As regards the action of the Local Government Board, I way state that during my tenure of office the managers have submitted proposals to use permanently as a site for a fever hospital certain land at Tottenham, and to acquire adjoining land for the purpose of extending their hospital at that place, and that both these proposals were assented to. They have also applied for sanction to the acquisition of land for fever hospitals at Lewisham and at Kidbrooke, and the necessary sanction was given in both cases. I was unable to assent to a proposal to acquire laud adjoining Tooting Common for a hospital, but the managers subsequently submitted a proposal to purchase other land for the purpose at no great distance from the site originally suggested, and this was sanctioned. The last proposal had reference to certain land at Norwood, and with regard to this, after full consideration of all the circumstances, the Local Government Board deemed it necessary to withhold their consent. The considerations which govern the Local Government Board in their decision on applications of this character must necessarily depend very much on the local circumstances. Each case is dealt with on its own merits and with due regard to the circumstances generally connected with it as brought before the Board by the managers, by those locally interested, and in the Report of the Board's Inspectors made after a public local inquiry.
§ * MR. COHENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great difficulty experienced by the Managers in providing hospital accommodation?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERYes. But that would not justify the Local Government Board in sanctioning an injustice.