§ MR. WISEasked the right hon. President of the Poor Law Board whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce any measures to revise the laws relating to the settlement and removal of the poor, or to alter the present mode of raising the rates for the relief of the poor, by distributing the charge over a wider and less variable basis, or otherwise? Secondly, if Her Majesty's Government were not prepared to propose early legislation on these subjects, whether the President of the Poor Law Board would assent to the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the practical operation of the laws for the relief of the poor in England and Wales, and to consider the policy and general effect of all the laws relating to settlement, removal, and parochial assessment?
MR. BOUVERIEsaid, in reply to the first question of his hon. Friend, that it was not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce any measure relative to the settlement and removal of the poor during the present Session. With respect to the second question of his hon. Friend, he had to state, that the appointment of such a Committee was a matter rather for the consideration of the House than of a Minister of the Crown; and before he could assent to a Motion to that effect, he should like to hear the arguments on which such a Committee was recommended. He would further observe, that of late years extensive inquiries had been made into this question. A few years ago the subject of removal was very minutely inquired into, and the case, as regarded the Irish an Scotch poor, was also investigated with great care and minuteness. Under these circumstances, and as the House would in all probability have to devote a considerable portion of its time during the present Session to the consideration of election petitions, he was not prepared, as at present advised, to agree to the appointment of such a Committee.