§ 49. Mr. Liddallasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the provisions of Section 37 of the Public Health Act, 1936, perpetuate the system of cesspools by withholding from a local authority the power to reject building plans of dwelling houses on unsewered land solely on account of proposed cesspools; and whether he will consider providing regulations to prohibit the building of cesspools for any dwelling house within an urban district?
§ Sir K. WoodThe Public Health Act, 1936, gives, I am advised, ample powers to local authorities to secure the proper construction and maintenance of cesspools and to prevent their being a nuisance or prejudicial to health.
§ Mr. LiddallDoes not my right hon. Friend consider that the Public Health Act should give local authorities the power to reject plans solely on the ground of the provision of a cesspool? Does he consider that in 1938 it is right that dwelling houses in urban districts should have cesspools?
§ Sir K. WoodI think this would be a very difficult proposition to accept.