§ MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the evidence of Dr. Downes, given before the recent Committee on Poor Law Schools, that there are in London workhouses on an average upwards of 2,000 children of school age; and, whether, as it is stated that this aggregation of children in workhouses is largely due to the block caused by the existence of infectious disease either among the children in the workhouse or in the school belonging to the union, he will entrust the new Central Metropolitan Authority, which he proposes to create, with the duty of taking over existing probationary or quarantine wards, and when necessary erecting others, in accordance with the recommendation of the recent Committee?
§ MR. CHAPLINI am glad to say that the number of children who are detained in London workhouses and infirmaries is now less than the number stated. The block has to some extent been occasioned by the cause referred to by the hon. Member, and it will be the duty of the Central Authority whom it is proposed to constitute to make such provision as is necessary for children of the class alluded to. The question how such provision should be made will be one for the new body in the first instance to consider.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether he will give effect to the recommendation of the recent Committee on Metropolitan Poor Law Schools that the establishment of small certified homes should be encouraged, by the Local Government Board urging on boards of guardians in suitable cases the expediency of utilising such homes, and by the appointment of additional inspectors, preferably women, to be charged with the duty of regularly visiting certified homes, conferring with the committee of management, and inspecting the children individually?
§ MR. PICKERSGILLalso asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he proposes to take any, and, if so, what steps to carry out the recommendation of the recent Committee on Poor Law Schools that special schools should be provided, of an intermediate character, for the reception of the casual and fluctuating class of children known as ins and outs.
§ MR. CHAPLINIt has already been the practice of the Local Government Board in the past to encourage the establishment of small certified schools, and it is certainly my intention to continue to do so. These schools are inspected by inspectors of the Board, and I have under my consideration the question whether it will not be necessary to increase the number of inspectors for the metropolitan district. The Local Government Board consider that it is very desirable that provision should be made otherwise than in the workhouse for children who are now retained temporarily before being drafted into the school, in order that it may be ascertained that they are not suffering from infectious disease, and for children of the particular class referred to by the hon. Member. The Board are desirous of promoting such arrangements, and schemes for the purpose are now under the consideration of some of the boards of guardians. The Board consider that such provision could be more satisfactorily made by the guardians of the different unions than by a central authority acting for the whole of the metropolis.