§ Sir W. COLLINSasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the difficulties experienced by borough surveyors and sanitary departments in many large towns through the shortage in staff of those engaged in the removal of refuse and in performing other sanitary services by the withdrawal of soldier labour, which has for some time past been available to local authorities; and whether he will take whatever steps may be practicable to avoid the depletion of such services to an extent which may imperil the public health?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERMy attention has been drawn to this matter. I am alive to the importance of not depleting unduly the sanitary staff of local authorities. I have suggested to some authorities the employment of uninterned enemy aliens. If the local military authorities are willing to make the services of soldiers available for this purpose, their help would, I have no doubt, be of great value.