§ MR. YOUNGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board propose to use pressure on the Cootehill Town Commissioners to induce them to carry out a scheme for the building of labourers' and artisans' dwellings within the township, the necessity of which has been proved by the medical sanitary officer and others?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Local Government Board have no power to compel the Town Commissioners to carry out schemes for building labourers' and artisans' dwellings. I may add I am informed that there are a large number of vacant houses in Cootehill suitable for labourers or artisans at moderate rents, and while this accommodation is available the Town Commissioners have not thought fit to carry out a scheme for providing dwellings under the Housing of the Working Classes Act.