§ MR. ROBERT W. HANBURYOn behalf of the hon. Member for the Western Division of Wolverhampton (Sir A. Hickman), I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board—(1) if he will explain, for the information of public bodies, what description of work is pointed to in his circular of 11th February, as being such that all can perform, whatever may have been their previous avocations, which will not compete with that of other labourers at present in employment, and which can be carried on during the present frost; and (2) whether he will, by legislative enactment if necessary, enable boards of guardians, to administer temporary assistance, under exceptional circumstances like the present, without necessarily disfranchising the recipients, instead of imposing the duty of doing so upon public bodies, who have no staff or organisation practised in the investigation of the need for, or the administration of, relief.
§ MR. SHAW-LEFEVREThe works referred to in the first paragraph of the question, are those specified in the circular. No doubt during the continuance of hard frost, many of these works could not be undertaken, and where the weather is such that outdoor work is impracticable, the suggestions in the circular do not apply. In issuing it, however, I hoped that the frost would not be long continued, or at any rate, that it would not affect all parts of the country. Questions as to the power of Guardians with regard to relief and as to the carrying out of works by other Local Authorities are, as it appears to me, matters which will be considered by the Committee on Distress which is now sitting. Until the Committee have made a Report on these matters, I feel unable to give an answer on the question of disfranchisement.