§ Order of the day for the Third Reading read.
*THE EARL OF LICHFIELDMy Lords, in moving the Third Reading of this Bill I again urge the Government, as I did on the occasion of the Second Reading, to take up the measure when it reaches the House of Commons. It is exactly the same Bill which your Lordships passed last session, but which failed to get through the House of Commons, and it will fail again unless the Government undertake to look after it in the other House. On behalf of the County Councils Association, I earnestly beg the Government to consider this point. If the Bill becomes law the county councils of England will establish isolation hospitals wherever they have power to do so. At the present moment millions of our people reside in districts where there is not sufficient hospital accommodation, and should an outbreak of infections disease occur owing to that want of accommodation it would be a very serious matter.
§ THE EARL OF NORTHBROOKI beg to add my hearty support to what has fallen from my noble friend. All over the country great activity is being displaced in providing isolation hospitals, and it is a great pity that owing to small defects in the law that work should be delayed. I certainly think this Bill is well worthy of the support of the Government in the other House.
§ Bill read 3a (according to order); amendment made; Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.