§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
EARL WEMYSSMy Lords, before this Bill is read a second time, I wish to call the attention of my noble Friend to a point which has been brought under my notice by persons who are interested in house property in Glasgow. It appears that by the Bill, as it at present stands, the Town Councils are empowered to shut up houses which they consider in an unfit state for habitation with an appeal only to the Sheriff; whereas, in the Public Health and Police Act for Scotland, there is an appeal to the Supreme Court, and in the Dundee Police Act there is also an appeal to the Supreme Court. Three successive Parliaments have approved of the principle which is embodied in the General Act to which I have referred, of an appeal lying to the Supreme Court. My Lords, it is not with the view at all of opposing this Bill that I venture to say these few words, but simply with the view of calling the attention of the noble Lord to this point, and I hope it will be well considered in Committee.
THE EARL OF LIMERICKMy Lords, I will see that the attention of my noble Friend the Chairman of Committees is called to this point when ho returns. I understand that the noble Lord does not object now to the Second Reading of this Bill?
§ Bill read 2a and committed.