HC Deb 22 July 1897 vol 51 cc806-7

Where it appears to any local authority that any house or part thereof, or any article of bedding or clothing therein, is in such a filthy or unwholesome condition that the health of any person is affected or endangered thereby, or that the whitewashing, cleansing, or purifying of any house or part thereof, or any article of bedding or clothing therein, would tend to prevent or check infectious diseases, the local authority shall give notice in writing to the owner or occupier of such house or part thereof to whitewash, cleanse, or purify the same, or any such article, as the case may require. If the person to whom notice is so given fails to comply therewith within the time therein specified, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten shillings for every day during which he continues to make default; and the local authority may, if they think fit, cause such house or part thereof to be whitewashed, cleansed, or purified, and may recover in a summary manner the expenses incurred by them in so doing from the person in default.

MR. CALDWELL

moved, after the words "Where it appears to any local authority," to insert "on the certificate of the medical officer of health or of any two medical practitioners." Those words were taken from the London Act. Before a sanitary inspector could enter a house in London he must have the certificate of the medical officer of health or of two medical practitioners, that his inspection was necessary in the interest of public health. He thought the same protection against vexatious and unnecessary visits of the sanitary inspector should be given to the people in Scotland.

*THE LORD ADVOCATE

thought that sanitary inspector ought to be able to get filthy clothing, cleansed without alt order from a medical officer of health.

SIR WALTER FOSTER

, said he had known small traders to be ruined by the visits of sanitary inspectors in uniform to their houses, and if there was a nuisance they ought to be able to protect themselves by calling in medical evidence, without any public exposure of their condition. Therefore, in the interest of public health, the Amendment—which followed the law as it existed in England —would be an improvement.

DR. CLARK

asked how the local authority would get the information unless it were certified by some one?

*THE LORD ADVOCATE

said that the information might come through an application or report. Inspectors did not wear uniforms in Scotland.

Amendment negatived.

Clause 43,—