§ 63. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether it is on the instructions or with the sanction of his Department that landowners and others desiring to build cottages in rural districts are required, under the by-laws of the rural district council, not merely to furnish plans of such cottages to their inspector and agree such plans with him, but subsequently to fill up and return to the surveyor of such council four separate notices as to the progress of the structure, the first when the damp course is laid, the second when the foundations are completed and ready to be covered up, the third when the drains are completed and ready to be covered up, and the fourth after the completion of the building; whether he realises that such action on the part of the local sanitary authority often acts as a serious deterrent 1479 to landowners willing and anxious to erect cottages in their localities; and whether he will take steps to refuse Departmental sanction to such by-laws?
§ Mr. BURNSThe present rural model series does not require the first two notices mentioned in the question. Some local authorities, however, have asked for a by-law requiring a notice when the damp course is laid, and I am advised that this is not unreasonable. A requirement as to a notice when the foundations of a building are completed is included in the urban model series, and is also in force in some rural districts. If an opportunity is to be given for the inspection of buildings during the course of their construction, it is only reasonable that notice of the progress of the work should be given.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that such official fussiness on the part of district councils acts as a serious detriment to cottage building in rural districts?
§ Mr. BURNSI do not admit the existence of the alleged fussiness. It is not unreasonable for a local authority to ask that cottages should have a damp course, that they should have reasonably dry foundations, and that the builder or owner of the cottage should build it so that it will be, when completed, in a habitable condition.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs it necessary, in order to effect that, that the owner should have to fill in five separate forms?
§ Mr. BURNSThe forms that the owner now fills in are the simplest possible. Anything that the hon Member can suggest to reduce their number or complexity, I will willingly accept; but we must insist that owners shall build cottages that are reasonably decent.