§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the guardians of St. George's-in-the-East are compelling aged male inmates of their workhouse in Old Gravel Lane to work at picking oakum, the material being old rope as thick as a man's fist and almost as hard as wood, and in some cases to labour at this kind of work for nine hours a day; and also that the same guardians allow to aged inmates of respectable character only one day's holiday a month, which may be either a Sunday or a week day, but that on other Sundays such inmates are only permitted to leave the workhouse between the hours of 9.30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and are then required to bring back a signed certificate of attendance at Divine service; and whether he will inquire into the facts and take steps to induce the St. George's guardians to comply with the spirit of his circular letter, dated 31st July, 1896?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL' GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordI am informed that certain of the inmates who are unable or unwilling to do other work have been employed in oakum picking. The statements in the Question as to the character of the material and the work are denied, but I have informed the guardians that it appears to the Board to be desirable that, so far as circumstances permit, oakum picking by the inmates of the workhouse should be discontinued, and that, in the case of aged inmates of respectable character, leave of absence might well be allowed on week days more frequently than is now the case.