§ Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the President of the Local Government Board if he will grant a Return of the number of representations and the respective rural district councils to 982W whom they were made under Sections 30 and 79 (2) of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, during the year 1911, and the number of copies of the above forwarded to the county medical officer of health in compliance with Section 69 (1) of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, and the names, if any, of the rural district councils where the above Section has not been observed; and whether any county council has in consequence instituted proceedings under Section 69 (4) of the Act?
§ Mr. BURNSInformation as to the number of representations made to rural district councils will be found in the White Paper on Housing recently issued by me, and I should be happy to furnish the Noble Lord with information as to the number of such representations made to any particular rural district council. I doubt, however, whether any useful object would be gained by going to the trouble and expense of obtaining the particular Return suggested. If in any ease the county medical officer of health is not duly receiving copies of the representations to which he is entitled I should be glad if the case could be brought to my notice. As regards the last part of the question I have no information as to any cases of the kind referred to.
§ Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKalso asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will grant a Return showing the names of the local authorities who, prior to 31st December, 1912, have complied with the provisions of Article I. of the Housing (Inspection of District) Regulations, 1910, such Return to give the date of the meeting when the procedure under Article I. (1) was adopted, the nature of the proceeding then adopted, the provisions for inspection made under Article I. (2), and the name or names of the officer and his official status designated under Article I. (3), and the date of the meeting of the local authority when such officer was so designated?
§ Mr. BURNSI am afraid that the preparation of the Return suggested would involve a great deal of labour, and I do not think that it is necessary at the present time. I am satisfied from the reports of the medical officers of health that arrangements have been made in most districts for carrying out the inspection under the Regulations, and that considerable progress has been made with the 983W inspection. In some districts, I am aware that proper arrangements has not been made, and as regards these I can assure the Noble Lord that I shall spare no effort to compel the execution by the authority of their duty in the matter.