HC Deb 12 July 1917 vol 95 c2094
33. Colonel Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCK

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the building by-laws of the borought of West Ham forbid the construction of any building unless the whole ground surface under every domestic building is properly asphalted or covered with a layer of good concrete cement; and whether the reconstruction work carried out by his Department at Silvertown was in accordance with these by-laws?

Mr. PRATT (Lord of the Treasury)

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The by-laws, however, are operative only in respect of entirely new or rebuilt houses. The local authorities, who were consulted, informed the Board that they had no power to enforce their by-laws in respect of the work which the Government were undertaking at Silvertown.