HC Deb 04 March 1897 vol 46 cc1588-9
MR. B. L. COHEN (Islington, S.)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will lay upon the Table of the House the answers he has received from the guardians of the Metropolitan parishes to the draft order prepared by the Local Government Board for placing certain classes of children under the care of a new central authority in London?

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

In a large proportion of the communications I have received I was asked to defer a decision until a conference was held on the subject. This conference was held on the 26th ult., and resolutions were passed by large majorities to the effect (1) that it was desirable that separate provision such as is indicated in the draft order should be made for certain special classes of children, and (2) that it should be urged upon the Local Government Board, before constituting a new board, to consider whether the duties created by the new order might not with advantage be conferred on some existing authority or authorities. At the conference referred to every board of guardians and the managers of each district school in the Metropolis were represented by delegates, and I have received no communication from any board of guardians on the subject since the conference took place.

MR. COHEN

asked if the answers received from the guardians could be laid on the Table.

MR. CHAPLIN

said he did not think further information could be obtained, but he would see what could be done.

MR. T. LOUGH (Islington, W.)

asked if the right hon. Gentleman would consider favourably the recommendation to reconsider the decision to constitute a new authority rather than give the work over to one of the existing authorities.

MR. CHAPLIN

replied that the whole matter was under consideration.