§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will defer his decision in the matter of the proposed Order respecting the Administration of Metropolitan Poor Law Schools until this House has had an opportunity of discussing the scheme, having regard to the fact that it sets up an entirely new central authority for the government of the Metropolis, whilst at the same time it does not carry out the essential recommendation of the recent Committee?
§ MR. CHAPLINThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension if he supposes that the Local Government Board propose to constitute a new central authority for the government of the Metropolis. The Order which the Board propose to issue refers to an authority to undertake the charge of certain classes of children in the Metropolis who are now maintained at the cost of the rates, this being one of the recommendations of the Committee he refers to. I cannot give the undertaking which the hon. Member asks for.