HC Deb 10 June 1856 vol 142 cc1228-30
SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

said, he would beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Poor Law Board whether any progress had yet been made in the correction of the great evils which had arisen from the crowded state and defective accommodation of St. Pancras Workhouse; and, if not, whether he intended to take any steps to require and enforce the necessary improvements?

MR. BOUVERIE

said, he would state for the information of the right hon. Gentleman and the House, what had taken place since the right hon. Gentleman had last asked the question. The report of Dr. Jones, on the subject of St. Pancras Workhouse, was forwarded to the directors of the poor under the local Act for the Government of St. Pancras in the month of February. On the 29th of the same month the Poor Law Board received a letter from the directors acknowledging the receipt of the communication, and stating that certain measures for improvements were contemplated being put in operation for putting an end to the state of things to which the right hon. Baronet had referred. On the 4th of March the Poor Law Board wrote, expressing their satisfaction at hearing measures of improvement were contemplated, and hoping no time would be lost. A month after that letter was written he thought it right to instruct the inspector of the metropolitan district again to visit the workhouse, and report what progress had been made. On the 22nd of April the inspector's report was received, stating that no material improvement whatever had been effected upon the state of things reported on by Dr. Jones. The Poor Law Board then addressed a further letter to the directors of the poor, expressing regret at finding no improvement made, and intimating that, unless very material changes were effected in the condition of the workhouse, within two months the Poor Law Board would issue a peremptory order for reducing the number of persons in the workhouse. The two months would expire at the end of July. But he should, in justice to the directors of the poor, who, he believed, were really anxious to carry into effect material measures of improvement—in justice to them, he should read a letter from the senior churchwarden and chairman of the directors. It was as follows:— I beg to inform you that, although the present guardians have been in office only two months, vast improvements have been effected. The relieving-office has been enlarged and ventilated and adapted to a new system of out-door relief, to prevent crowding and waiting. Many improvements in the arrangement and management of the workhouse have also been effected, and the schools will be removed in a short time. It is only right that I should state—it would be unfair to the new directors not to do so—that they are doing all they can to alter the wretched state of affairs which they found on coming into power. He believed the directors were anxious for improvement, although they had difficulties to encounter, not being absolute directors, but having to refer to and fro to their vestry; but he hoped with the creditable disposition of those Gentlemen, that material and effective changes would soon be made.

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

said, he hoped it would be known that, if improvements were not made within two months, the Government had the power to compel the directors to effect them.

MR. BOUVERIE

said, they had certain power over the officers of the workhouses, but no direct power over the directors of the poor.