§ MR. HARRY FOSTER (Suffolk, Lowestoft)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that Dr. Copeman recently paid a visit to Lowestoft as a representative of the Local Government Board, in order to instruct or advise the Port Sanitary Authorities as to the steps to be taken by them for providing against the importation of cholera; that he advised a large expenditure in fresh sanitary arrangements, the purchase of a steam launch, and the increase of the salary of the medical officer and his staff; and, on being pressed by members of the Town Council as to how the expense was to be met, replied that the Local Government Board would not contribute a farthing towards the cost unless the recommendations were carried out in their entirety; what office Dr. Copeman holds in connection with the Local Government Board; whether Dr. Copeman has made similar statements to other Port Sanitary Authorities in the Kingdom; and what course he proposes to take to secure to the Lowestoft Port Sanitary Authorities repayment of the money spent by them on the representations of an officer of the Board?
§ *THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. H. FOWLER,) Wolverhampton, E.Dr. Copeman, who is one of the Medical Inspectors of the Local Government Board, visited Lowestoft in March last for the purpose of advising the Port Sanitary Authority as to the stops which it was desirable to take with a view to providing against an importation of cholera. He made certain recommendations to the Port Sanitary Authority with regard to the maintenance of precautions which he already found in operation to some modifications that were, in his opinion, desirable, and to certain additional inspection of vessels which might have to be put into operation if need should arise. The arrangements actually in operation at the date of his visit were held by him to be in the main satisfactory, and he had, therefore, no occasion to advise a large expense in further arrange- 62 ments. He did not urge the purchase of a steam launch, but suggested some arrangements with owners of steam tugs plying in the harbour. Neither did he recommend an increase of the salary of the Medical Officer of Health of the port. Being pressed on the question of a subvention from Imperial funds, he stated that at that date no decision had been arrived at as to the applications which had been made to the Government on the subject. At the same time, he expressed the opinion that any such contribution, if made, would only be granted subject to the conditions being fulfilled which are necessary to the carrying out of the Cholera Regulations. Dr. Copeman has, in answer to similar questions, made a similar statement in one or two other port districts. The Local Government Board are not aware that the Port Sanitary Authority of Lowestoft have incurred any expenses beyond those for carrying out their duties under the Regulations.