MR. GATHORNE HARDYasked the Secretary to the Local Government Board, Whether the Guardians of the Strand or Westminster Union decline to send their sick to the Central London Sick Asylum; and, if so, on what grounds; and, whether the Local Government Board is satisfied with the accommodation made by them for their sick poor; and, if not, whether they have sufficient powers to 1296 compel them to use the asylum specially adapted for the sick?
§ MR. HIBBERT,in reply, said, that the Guardians of the Strand Union had persistently declined to send their sick to the Central London Sick Asylum, on the ground that they had accommodation for all classes of the poor in their own workhouse. The Guardians of the Westminster Union had formerly sent their poor, but not since last June, and the reason they assigned was that they had provided proper infirmary accommodation in their own workhouse. The Local Government Board were not satisfied with the accommodation provided. They had no power directly to compel the Guardians to send their sick poor to the Asylum; but if the Guardians did not avail themselves of the accommodation provided at the Central London Sick Asylum, they would have to contribute towards the expense of the establishment without deriving any benefit from it, to the serious loss of the ratepayers of the Union. The matter bad been under the consideration of the Local Government Board for several months, and they expected in the course of a few days to take such steps as would be the means of transfering the sick poor from the Union to the Asylum.