§ MR. KINNAIRDsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Poor Law Board, Whether any and what number of Unions have expressed objections to a certain Order of the Poor Law Board, dated the 23rd day of August, 1859, relating to the Religious Instruction of Orphan Children in Workhouses, and whether a large number of Unions have not positively refused to obey such Order; whether any steps have been taken to compel the Guardians so refusing to carry into effect the said Order; and whether the Poor Law Board have intimated, or caused it to be understood, that the said Order is not compulsory.
§ MR. C. P. VILLIERSsaid, the Order referred to was issued by his predecessors to 591 Unions. Out of that number thirty-eight Boards of Guardians had expressed some objection to the order, and nine had stated their intention not to give any effect to it. The Poor Law Board had not taken any steps to enforce it. Some doubt having been expressed as to its legal construction, the Board took the opinion of Counsel, and they had since caused it be made known that the order would not be compulsory.