HC Deb 01 March 1897 vol 46 cc1321-2
MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a case heard at the Thames Police Court, on the 8th February, of one John Redmond, who having applied for admission on the previous day to the Strand Casual Ward, was told that it was full, and directed to the Rotherithe Casual Ward, a distance of three miles; on arriving there was sent on to the St. George's in the East Casual Ward, a further distance of two miles, and was thence again told to go to the Poplar Casual Ward; whether the respective guardians of those unions, by thus sending an applicant wandering about over the Metropolis, fulfilled their statutory obligations; and whether he will represent to the guardians the necessity to make provision for overflows, by giving direction to the relieving officer or otherwise?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. HENRY CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, Sleaford

I have caused careful inquiry to be made with regard to the statements by Redmond at the Thames Police Court, and I am satisfied that his allegations as to his being sent wandering about over the Metropolis in consequence of the casual wards being full is without foundation.