§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the startling revelations which have recently been made concerning the insanitary state of bakehouses in Marylebone, at the East End, and other parts of London, the filthy conditions under which bread is made, the terribly prolonged hours of labour of the operative bakers, and their low rate of wages; and whether the Local Authorities are making any efforts to remedy the evils; and if they are not, whether he will forthwith take the necessary steps for ascertaining the truth concerning the condition of the places in which the food of so many millions of people is prepared, the condition of the operative bakers who prepare it, and, if necessary, rigidly enforce the authority vested in him by "The Public Health (London) Act, 1891"?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. H. FOWLER,) Wolverhampton, E.The attention of the Local Government Board has not been drawn to the revelations as to the condition of bakehouses in Marylebone, the East End, and other parts of London. It devolves on the Local Sanitary Authorities to put in force the provisions of the law with regard to the sanitary condition of bakehouses, 1268 and I have not received any communication alleging default on the part of Sanitary Authorities or their officers in this matter. If there is a failure on the part of any Sanitary Authority to discharge their duty with regard to bakehouses, complaint can be made to the London County Council, who are empowered to take action with a view to the enforcement of the law. Speaking from memory, I may add that the Local Government Board cannot interfere except at the instance of the London County Council.