§ MR. CHARLES GRAY (Essex, Maldon)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether the Local Government Board is assured that in all union workhouses such accommodation is provided that no married couples are separated who, by being over sixty years of age, have the legal right to live together?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)Last November the Local Government Board issued a Circular to Boards of Guardians, calling their attention to the duty devolving upon them under the statutory provisions with reference to the non-separation in the workhouse of husband and wife in certain cases. From the replies that have been received, there would not appear to be that anxious desire which some people think exists on the part of these aged couples to live together. On the contrary, over and over again it is stated that where provision is made it is not availed of. One clerk to a Board reported that in the only instance within his knowledge in which the advantages of association were adopted by an old pair in a certain workhouse they lived together for about a year; but the experiment was not attended with a satisfactory result. They were so constantly quarrelling that after repeated attempts to reconcile them they desired to be placed in the ordinary wards, and they remained there. [An hon. MEMBER: Where was that?] In Camberwell. We have no reason to believe that any cases exist where the accommodation is desired and is not furnished; but if the hon. Gentleman knows of any case, and will inform me of it, I will at once cause inquiries to be made and see that the provisions of the law are fulfilled.