§ MR. KEIR HARDIEI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can now state the extent of the powers possessed by Boards of Guardians for acquiring land and setting the unemployed to work thereon at reasonable wages; whether such employment necessarily implies the disfranchisement of the persons so employed; and whether he will issue a Circular to Boards of Guardians calling attention to their powers in this respect, and stating how far the Local Government Board is prepared to co-operate with them in putting such powers into operation?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. FOWLER,) Wolverhampton, E.I am not yet in a position to answer the question.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEWhen may we expect an answer?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERAs soon as I receive the opinion of the Law Officers.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEsubsequently asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was aware that the question was of urgent importance, and that a number of Boards of Guardians in the East of London were awaiting the decision of the Government, and whether he could bring pressure to bear on the Law Officers of the Crown to give their opinion as soon as possible?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERThere is no occasion to bring pressure to bear upon the Law Officers of the Crown. The question they have to consider is one of the greatest difficulty, but I am sure they will give it every attention in their power.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEasked whether the Law Officers were devising any amendment of the law, or whether they were simply going to advise on the existing law?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERThey will simply advise on the existing law.