§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the President of the Local Government Board, If there is truth in the statement of the Vicar of Leeds, contained in a letter in the "Times" of the 23rd instant, that an old man of 86, in the workhouse there, is separated from his wife, they being locked in their respective wards, and only allowed to meet once a week? He also wished to ask, Whether, if that is true, he intends to take any steps to put a stop to such barbarous treatment of paupers? He might mention, though it did not affect the question, that the parties were a Duc and Duchesse.
§ MR. SCLATER-BOOTH,in reply, said, that the Poor Law Inspector, in whose district Leeds was included, informed him that the old couple who had been set to live apart in the Leeds Workhouse had not expressed a wish to live together, although the workhouse contained apartments for married inmates. Moreover, as the woman was paralyzed and an inmate of the infirmary, it was not considered desirable to place her with her husband. No allegation of barbarous conduct on the part of the authorities had been reported to him. He would, in due course, communicate to the hon. Member a statement which he expected from the Leeds Board of Guardians.