§ MR. J. G. TALBOT (Oxford University)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the recent death at Blake's Road, Peckham, of an old woman named Mary Ann Pope, aged 73, reported in the Standard of 22nd February, which is alleged to have been due to starvation; whether the guardians had in this case allowed out-door relief for a considerable period; whether subsequently this was discontinued and relief in the workhouse had been offered and refused; and whether the guardians had taken any measures to prevent so lamentable an issue as appears to have occurred?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordI have communicated with the guardians, and find that the facts are substantially as stated in the Question. The grounds for refusing outdoor relief and offering the workhouse are stated to have been that the deceased and her husband were in a filthy condition, and that this continued after they had been repeatedly cautioned both by the Relief Committee and the Relieving Officer that unless an improvement took place the out-door relief would cease. The Local Government Board consider that when admission to the workhouse is offered and refused, the case should be watched by the Relieving Officer, with a view of giving relief in kind if it should appear to him to be requisite. It is much to be regretted that this course was not adopted in the case in question, and the Board have informed the guardians accordingly.