§ 37 and 38. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Local Government Board (1) whether he is aware of the verdict of the jury at the Southwark Coroner's Court at an inquest held on 4th April on Margaret Young, aged fifty-three, who was living in the Tabard Street condemned insanitary area; if he is aware that the jury stated that in their opinion the house in which the deceased woman lived and died was in an insanitary condition and totally unfit for human habitation; if he will urge upon the responsible sanitary authority or authorities, without further delay, to take steps to close the premises in question; and (2) if his attention has been called to the inquest on Albert Martin, aged nine years, at the Southwark Coroner's Court on the 11th April, 1916, in which Dr. Spilsbury and the local medical practitioners stated that the infectious fever and lung disease which caused the boy's death was more than likely to spread if it got a footing in an overcrowded district such as the condemned Tabard Street area; if he is aware that the rooms condemned, small ones, were barely furnished and farmed out singly at a rental of 6s. per week; that the coroner stated that it entirely failed his comprehension how such hovels, not fit for a dog or donkey, came to be relet; and if he intends taking action in the matter?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERThe coroner has been good enough to send my right hon. Friend particulars of the inquests to 30 which the hon. Member refers in this and the following question, and he is in communication with the London County Council on the subject. It is the duty of every local authority, under Section 17 of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, to make a closing order in respect of any dwelling house which is in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation, and my right hon. Friend has no doubt that any steps which may be necessary in this direction will be put in hand by one or other of the local authorities concerned. A copy of the questions and of the reply is being sent to the local authorities, namely, the Southwark Borough Council and the London County Council. As, in the event of closing orders being made, there is an appeal to the Local Government Board, my right hon. Friend cannot do more than this.