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MR. CRAUFURD moved for the appointment of a Select Committee
To inquire into the operation of the Poor Law in Scotland, and whether any and what amendments should be made therein.
§ MR. DYCE NICOLsaid, that he did not rise to oppose the reappointment of the Committee, but to express a hope that its attention would this Session be more directed to the operation of the Poor Law in the agricultural districts of Scotland, for he found that out of twenty-three witnesses examined last Session, there was only one inspector of a purely rural parish. In the voluminous evidence laid on the table of the House, it appeared that several philanthropic gentlemen had given their theories on the principle of the present Poor Law, from which he humbly thought there could be no practical result, but he was glad to find that the evidence generally was calculated completely to refute the exaggerated statements which had been made as to the operation of the Act of 1845, and the House would look forward with interest to the Report of the Committee, founded on the evidence laid before it.
§ MR. CRAUFURDexplained that it was only want of time that prevented the examination of more witnesses of the kind to which the hon. Gentleman had referred.
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Motion agreed to.
Select Committee appointed, "to inquire into the operation of the Poor Law in Scotland, and whether any and what amendments should be made therein."—(Mr. Craufurd.)
And, on February 18, Committee nominated as follows:—Mr. CRAUFURD, The LORD ADVOCATE, Sir ROBERT ANSTRUTHER, Mr. ANDERSON, Mr. ARMITSTEAD, Mr. CAMERON, Sir EDWARD COLEBROOKE, Mr. ELLICE, Mr. CRUM EWING, Mr. ORR EWING, Mr. FORDYCE, Mr. GORDON, Mr. JOHN HAMILTON, Mr. LOCH, Mr. MACKINTOSH, Mr. M'LAGAN, Mr. MILLER, Sir GRAHAM MONTGOMERY, Mr. PARKER, Mr. ARTHUR PEEL, and Sir DAVID WEDDERBURN:—Power to send for persons, papers, and records; Five to be the quorum.