§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in the construction of newly- 1255 built houses at Frognal, Hampstead, mortar shown by analysis to be composed of earthy and organic matters, and from which lime is practically absent, has been used, and that the external or enclosing walls of basements which abut against the earth have not been protected by material impervious to moisture; and whether, under the bye-laws approved by the Home Secretary on the 19th October, 1891, he can take any steps to prevent builders from constructing, and district surveyors from passing, houses of a similarly defective character in the County of London?
§ MR. ASQUITHI must refer my hon. Friend to the London County Council with regard to the details mentioned in this question. The bye-laws referred to were prepared by the London County Council, and approved by the Home Secretary in October, 1891, but the question of their enforcement is entirely outside my jurisdiction.