§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board what are the existing arrangements in regard to the Receivership of the London Common Poor Fund; whether any Government officials connected with the Local Government Board are paid out of this fund, in addition to their salaries as Government officials; and whether some arrangement can be made by which these moneys can be administered by the Local Government Board without any additional salaries from the fund being paid?
§ *MR. RITCHIEThe office of Receiver of the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund was held by the late Sir John Lambert when he was Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Board, and I have appointed the present Permanent Secretary of the Department as his successor. There is considerable advantage in the office being held by one who has the experience and general knowledge which the Permanent Secretary of the Board possesses as regards administration arrangements in connection with the expenditure by Boards of Guardians, which is payable out of the Common Poor Fund in accordance with the requirements of the Statute. Before making an appointment, I revised the arrangements with regard to the remuneration. The late Receiver of the fund received a salary of £700, to include expenses of assistance. I have reduced the remuneration from £700 to £400, and it is understood that out of the £400 payments for assistance not less than £200 will be made. The claims on the Common Poor Fund in respect of the last completed year exceeded £1,000,000. The net sum received by the Receiver and distributed by him exceeded a quarter of a million. The responsibility, therefore, is great, and the remuneration cannot be regarded 1732 as excessive. The duties of the office of Receiver are not to be allowed in any way to clash with the duties devolving on the Secretary. It is fair to the Secretary to add that he made no application for the post.