§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has observed that in the evidence given at the Government inquiry into the cruelty to children case at Brentwood, Essex, it was stated that the visit of each member of the School 1122 Committee cost the ratepayers 9s.—namely, 5s. first-class fare and 4s. refreshments; and whether, in view of the comments of the learned Judge at the recent Essex Assize on the way these duties had been neglected with reference to the children, he would order these persons to be surcharged for their refreshments and first-class fares?
§ MR. SHAW-LEFEVREAn inquiry with reference to the Brentwood School, which extended to the question of the visitation of the school by the Visiting Committee, has just been concluded, but I have not yet received the Report on the inquiry. I have no authority to order members of the Committee to be surcharged, as suggested, with the amount of their expenses in visiting the school.
§ MAJOR RASCHIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the clerk to the Guardians stated in his evidence that an allowance was made to the members of the Visiting Committee?
§ MR. SHAW-LEFEVREI have no information on that matter.