§ MR. HARRY S. FOSTER (Suffolk, Lowestoft)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is now in a position to inform the House as to the result of his communications with the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the subject of a grant from the Imperial funds to the Port Sanitary Authorities of the United Kingdom in respect of the expense they have already incurred, and may be called upon to incur, in carrying out the recommendations of the Local Government Board, by way of precaution against the invasion of cholera, in pursuance of the promise given by him to the important deputation of Members on the 19th instant?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT, Derby)As this matter comes within my Department my right hon. Friend has asked me to answer the question. I have been in communication with the President of the Local Government Board on this subject. The officers of the Customs have been instructed to render all assistance in their power in respect of the visitation of ships, which largely reduces the extra cost. Apart from this, and any additional cost of medical inspection, the main additional expenditure arises in respect of hospital accommodation—an expenditure which is undertaken by localities at present in respect of all outbreaks of infectious and contagious diseases. There seems to be no ground upon which the case of cholera should be distinguished from that of small-pox or scarlet fever or other dangerous diseases which are liable to be communicated from one place to another. There are no Imperial funds available for this purpose without increased taxation. The taxpayer has been recently charged with an additional sum of £4,000,000 a year for the relief of local taxation, and it appears to me that the moderate occasional expenditure for purposes of this character should, if necessary, be defrayed from that source. It appears from representations made by the Municipal Authorities that the claim is put forward, not on behalf of the ports alone, but of all Local Authorities. There is already a contribution from the Local Taxation Account towards the salaries of Medical Officers of Health and Inspectors of Nuisances to 141 the Port Sanitary Authorities, and it may deserve consideration whether, in case of necessity, that contribution might not be increased to meet any extraordinary charge.
§ MR. HARRY S. FOSTERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the President of the Local Government Board distinctly asked the deputation that recently waited upon him whether they came on behalf of all Local Authorities, or merely on behalf of the Port Sanitary Authorities, and was informed that they represented Port Sanitary Authorities only?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI am quite aware of that. The Port Sanitary Authorities came on their own account, but I predicted that all Local Authorities would make the same demand. They have made that demand; and have sent it to me through the Municipal Corporations Association.
§ MR. HARRY S. FOSTERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the deputation came on behalf of the Port Sanitary Authorities, and that it was supported by a large number of Members representing inland towns, who endorsed the demands of the Port Sanitary Authorities?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI am quite aware of that, but I am also quite aware that if this concession was made to Port Sanitary Authorities there would be no argument whatever for refusing it to others.