§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether the insane child of a soldier in India, and a soldier's wife, have been brought from India to Portsmouth in Indian troopships and left chargeable on the rates of that borough; in the latter case the soldier having been sent on to his depot, leaving his wife destitute and chargeable; and, whether the 956 mere fact of the Indian troopships coming to Portsmouth justifies the authorities in taking the course adopted in these cases?
§ MR. CHILDERSIt is the fact that a soldier's insane wife and the insane child of another soldier have been left chargeable—or, rather, I should say partially chargeable—to the rates of the Portsmouth Union; but the highest legal stoppages have in both cases been made from the soldiers' pay in aid of their maintenance. Under the Statute 16 & 17 Vict. c. 97, the Union of Portsmouth is liable for the charge of these persons; and, considering the great advantages which Portsmouth derives from the Government establishments there, it will hardly be deemed unreasonable that the Union should be so chargeable. Perhaps I may add that every information in possession of the Department is given to the Union authorities to enable them to trace the proper place of settlement in such cases.