HC Deb 07 August 1883 vol 282 cc1842-3
MR. BIGGAR

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the Local Government Board for Ireland have approved of the proposal of the Belfast Board of Guardians to erect a detached house for the accommodation of the Workhouse Master's family, at a cost (as alleged by Mr. M'Connell, one of the Guardians) of £1,000; if it be true that, in the month of June 1876, a resolution was adopted by the Belfast Guardians prohibiting all children or other members of any officers' families from residing within the Workhouse in future, and that said resolution has 11 never been rescinded; if it be correct that the present master, when entering on his duties, brought his wife and family with him into the Workhouse without any permission from the Guardians; and, if he would give any undertaking that the creation of increased taxation, providing residences for the wives and families of public officials in Ireland, will be discontinued?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, the Local Government Board have riot approved of any proposal of the kind. The Guardians have at present under consideration a much more moderate one—namely, the propriety of expending about £400 for the purpose of building apartments for the Master. In June, 1876, the Guardians ordered that all children of the Master over 7 years of age should leave the workhouse, and they also ordered the removal of the relatives of certain other officers. That order was not a general resolution, prohibiting in future the residence in the workhouse of all children of officers. In June, 1881, the attention of the Guardians was directed by the Local Government Board Inspector to the circumstance that there was no resolution on the books authorizing the Master's wife and family to reside in the workhouse; and thereupon the Guardians unanimously allowed the residence there of the Master's wife and all children under 13. The Local Government Board will take care that no undue taxation is put upon the Unions for the purpose of providing residences for the families of workhouse officers.