HC Deb 10 August 1893 vol 15 cc1745-6
MR. STRACHEY (Somerset, S.)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has power to issue an Order giving Boards of Guardians leave to grant, where desirable, outdoor relief to members of a Friendly Society without deducting all or any allowance received by them from such Society; and, if so, whether he will at once issue such Order?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. H. FOWLER, Wolverhampton, E.)

The question whether Boards of Guardians, when determining the amount of out-relief that should be given to a person who has been a member of a Friendly Society, should exclude from consideration the amount which the applicant may receive from that Society has been considered from time to time by the Poor Law Commissioners and the Poor Law Board, as well as the Local Government Board, and I may draw attention to a letter of the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, written in January, 1870, in which the whole question was very ably discussed. I am advised, however, that the Local Government Board are not empowered to issue such an Order as that referred to in the question. It is also to be borne in mind that if such an Order were issued it could not be limited in its application to the one class of thrift indicated—namely, contributing to a Friendly Society. At the same time, I may state that it is not unusual for Boards of Guardians to take into account as the income of the person a portion only of the weekly sum which he receives from a Friendly Society. The subject is one of considerable difficulty, and, as it has been brought under the attention of the Royal Commission on the Aged Poor, I think that the Local Government Board should wait for the Report of that Commission before taking any legislative action in the matter.

MR. STRACHEY

If the Local Government Board have no power to modify the Order of July 24, 1847, how is it that the predecessor of the right lion. Gentleman issued an Order which took away the powers of Boards of Guardians in this matter?

MR. H. H. FOWLER

I must ask for notice of that question. I am investigating the case to which the hon. Member alludes, and I am distinctly advised by the legal advisors of the Local Government Board that they have no power to issue an Order such as that suggested by the hon. Member.