§ Lord H. CAVENDISH -BENTINCKasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the fact that the secretary of a body called the Rural District Councils Association has, at the request of the Local Government Board, issued a circular to the various 2273W rural district councils asking how many cottages have been built during the last three years, and as to the number of houses suitable for the working classes which are at the present time vacant and fit for habitation, he will invite the secretary to obtain in addition information as to the number of villages where rural district councils are unwilling to issue closing and demolition orders for fear of increasing the existing scarcity of cottages, and unable to build cottages without adding to the rates of their district?
§ Mr. BURNSThe replies to the circular referred to are now being received, and I do not think I could properly invite the association to send out another circular at the present time.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH - BENTINCKasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the overcrowded conditions In the village of Chinley, in Derbyshire, and to the fact that it was stated at the Chapel-en-le-Frith Rural District Council that one cottage of two bedrooms contained seven persons, a mother, two sisters, a daughter aged 17, and two men lodgers, whilst another of two bedrooms and an attic contained eleven persons, a mother, daughter and her husband, four daughters, aged 15 to 21, two sons, and two lodgers; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. BURNSMy attention had not been drawn to the statements referred to, but I will make inquiries into the matter.