§ MR. ELLIOTT LEES (Oldham)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether Boards of Guardians are now obliged by law to permit husband and wife when over the age of 60 to live together, unless they themselves desire to be separated; and, if so, what steps have been taken by the Local Government Board to enforce the law?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE,) Tower Hamlets, St. George'sThe 10 & 11 Vict., cap 109, provides that when any two persons being husband and wife and above the age of 60 years are received into any workhouse, they shall not be compelled to live separate and apart from each other in such workhouse. The Local Government Board have from time to time drawn the attention of Boards of Guardians to this provision. The last Circular Letter on the subject was dated the 3rd November, 1885. If in any case I receive any intimation that the law in this respect is disregarded by a Board of Guardians the matter would receive my attention.
§ MR. A. O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that the pauper inmates are themselves made acquainted with their rights in this particular?
§ MR. RITCHIEI believe that a notice to the effect I have stated is given in workhouses.