§ LORD ELCHOsaid, he wished to put a Question to the Secretary of the Poor Law Board, of which he had given him private notice—namely, Whether the attention of the Government has been directed to the best mode of dealing with the casual and vagrant poor, so as, if possible, to draw a distinction between the deserving poor and the incurable vagrant class; and, whether it is likely that a Bill will be introduced on the subject?
§ MR. SCLATER-BOOTHreplied, that the Poor Law Board had received sixty or seventy memorials from unions in various parts of the kingdom respecting the treatment of the casual and vagrant poor, and that they had recently addressed inquiries to their Inspectors as to the success which had attended an experiment which was being tried in Gloucestershire and neighbouring counties with a view to distinguish between the bonâ fide wayfarer and the ordinary vagrant. The Board were considering whether it would be possible to recommend the general adoption of that or any other system; but he was unable to say whether they would think it expedient to bring forward a measure on the subject this Session.