§ MR. FORWOOD (Lancashire, Ormskirk)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he has received from the City Council of Liverpool a request for an inquiry into the question of demolishing 500 houses reported to be unfit for habitation by the 469 Medical Officer of Health for that city, under the powers conferred upon him by local Acts; if the Local Government Board have any statutory powers enabling it to act in the matter; if such authority exists, will he extend the inquiry so as to include a consideration of the early demolition of the very large number, estimated at 10,000, of similar unfit habitations in that city; and is he aware that the Liverpool City Council, in the early part of last year, resolved by a majority to postpone for 12 months any action as regards the demolition of insanitary houses?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. SHAW-LEFEVRE,) Bradford, CentralThe Local Government Board received an application from the City Council of Liverpool for sanction to a loan of £50,000 in connection with the demolition of insanitary houses in the city. A loan of £25,000 was sanctioned, but the Board determined to hold a local inquiry before sanctioning a further amount. The inquiry has from time to time been deferred by the desire of the Council, but in consequence of a communication which the Board have now received it will be proceeded with at an early date. The Board have no power to extend the inquiry as suggested in the second paragraph of the question. I understand that a resolution to the effect of that referred to in the third paragraph was passed by the Council.
§ MR. FORWOODMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if, in view of the fact that the Medical Officer reported these houses as unfit for habitation and in a condition and situation injurious, dangerous, and prejudicial to health, he will accelerate the inquiry as much as possible?