MR. S. O'BRIENimpaired whether it were the intention of the Government that the circular to the relief committee, which had just been issued under the signature of Mr. Redington, should be the sole guide to such committees respecting the time at which persons employed on the public works were to leave off?
§ Mr. LABOUCHEREreplied, that the Treasury had issued directions of a very precise character to the Board of Works with regard to the manner in which the number of men engaged in the public works should be diminished. The minute containing those directions would be very soon laid on the Table of the House, and every hon. Member would then be in a position to understand the views of the Government on this subject.
§ Mr. P. SCROPEwas anxious to know whether Her Majesty's Government had issued any directions respecting the treatment, during this calamitous season, of those whose parents or natural protectors might be committed to prison for offences of any kind. The propriety of asking the question was suggested to him by reading in the papers an account of a poor woman who had been imprisoned for stealing some article of food for herself and her children, and, on being released, she found her children dead. He believed a similar occurrence had taken place at Cork. He wished to know whether any provision had been made for the future care of the families of persons committed to prison to prevent their being starved to death.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREregretted that the hon. Gentleman had not given notice of his intention to ask the question. He could only say that such cases as those alluded to by the hon. Member, were the very ones to which the relief committees should first apply their attention. He was not aware, however, that any special directions had been issued on the subject.