§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the report of the medical officer of health for Donaghadee, county Down, 1530W of the insanitary condition of some of the smaller houses in the town; whether he is aware that some of these houses have earthen floors, and windows which do not open; that one of the reasons given at the urban council meeting for not interfering with these houses was that the landlord might evict the tenants where he was not inclined to put the houses in a sanitary condition; and whether the Local Government Board will consider the advisability of interfering in this case, in order to compel the enforcement of the Public Health Acts?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board know that the urban district council recently received reports from the medical officer of health as to the condition of certain houses, but they cannot say whether the contents of these reports are correctly described in the question. The reports have been referred to the public health committee of the Council, and the Board when informed of the action which the council decide to take, will give the matter full consideration.