HC Deb 11 May 1883 vol 279 cc521-2
COLONEL COLTHURST

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, as President of the Local Government Board, he will take steps to make known to all Boards of Guardians that they have power to issue outdoor relief in cases of sickness in a family, even if the head of the family be not himself sick, and that these powers are not confined to cases of occupiers of land referred to in Circular of February 7th 1880?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, I take my hon. and gallant Friend's point to be that, because no mention is made in the Circular referred to of the cases of persons not in any way connected with the occupation of land, misapprehension may exist on the part of Boards of Guardians as to their powers with respect to the grant of outdoor relief in such cases. I will take the opportunity, when in Ireland during the Recess, of ascertaining whether there is reason to believe that any such misapprehension exists on the part of any Boards of Guardians.

COLONEL COLTHURST

My right hon. Friend has misapprehended my Question. My object was to convey to the Guardians an expression of opinion that families may be given outdoor relief even though the head of the family may not be sick.

MR. TREVELYAN

In the view of the Local Government Board the Circular to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is sufficient; but if my hon. and gallant Friend will point out to me any particular in which he does not think it sufficient, I will have inquiry made into the matter.

COLONEL COLTHURST

Have the Boards of Guardians acted on the Circular?

MR. TREVELYAN

The question is whether they understand it.

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

As Chairman of two Boards of Guardians, I beg to say that they have acted on it.