MR. T. DA VIES (Fulham)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the expense imposed upon sanitary authorities in regard to combined drainage, to some extent as the result of the decision of the Court of Appeal (Silles v. Fulham Borough Council); whether he is aware that the cost to the ratepayers of London alone is over £40,000 per annum to maintain such drains, and in view of that will he bring in a Bill to amend the law, so that dishonest builders and house owners are no longer able surreptitiously to connect the drains of two or more houses, thereby to throw the cost of maintaining purely private drainage from their own shoulders to those of the ratepayers; and, if he is not prepared to bring in a Bill himself, will he give his support to a Bill if brought in by a private Member on behalf of the Metropolitan borough councils.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have received representations to the effect stated in the Question. The subject is one of difficulty, and I could not give any pledge to propose legislation with regard to it this session. I am ready to consider any measure which may be introduced on behalf of the borough councils for dealing with the matter, but, of course, I could not say beforehand that the Bill will be one which I could support.