§ MR. A. O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in cases of disputed settlement where a child is removed from one union to another, it is in accordance with existing regulations that the transfer should take place without the Guardians of the latter union being informed of the religion of the child; and, if so, whether he will cause such amendment of the Rules and Orders as shall secure that the religion of every child removed is notified to the receiving union?
§ MR. RITCHIEWhen a child is removed to its place of settlement the proceedings are under Statute and not under any Rules or Orders of the Local Government Board. The duty of the master of the workhouse or school as regards the entry in the Creed Register of the religious creed of a child is imposed by the 31 & 32 Vic, Cap. 122, Sec. 17. Under that enactment it is his duty to enter in the Register as the religious creed of the child the creed of the father or mother, according to the circumstances, so far as it is known to him or can be ascertained by reasonable inquiry. If, therefore, in the case of a child removed from one union to another the master of the workhouse is unable to obtain the necessary information as to the creed which should be entered in the Register without inquiry from the union from which the child has been received, I consider that it would be his duty to make such inquiry. If the hon. Member is aware of any case where he thinks that proper inquiry has not been made in this matter, I will give the case my attention on being informed of the facts.