§ MR. LANIGANsaid, he would beg to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If he can inform the House why the Irish Poor Law Commissioners have not ordered outdoor relief to be given to distressed agricultural and other labourers, and to the unemployed and destitute mechanics in Ireland?
§ SIR ROBERT PEELsaid, the hon. Member seemed to be under some misapprehension. According to the 1st section of the Act of 1847 it rested solely with the Guardians, and not with the Poor Law Commissioners, to give or withhold out- 726 door relief. There were three classes to whom outdoor relief would be given under that section of the Act by the Guardians, without any reference to the Poor Law Commissioners. First, destitute poor persons who were permanently disabled from labour by reason of old age, infirmity, or bodily or mental defect; secondly, to destitute poor persons, disabled from labour by reason of severe sickness or having met with serious accidents; and, thirdly, destitute poor widows, having two or more legitimate children depending on them for support. Therefore, the Poor Law Board had nothing to do with the matter, so far as the class to which the Question referred to was concerned.