HC Deb 10 July 1899 vol 74 cc313-4
MR. TREVELYAN (Yorkshire, West Riding, Rotherham)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the fact that a pauper, placed by the Bristol Guardians in charge of remanded boys, has been committed for twenty-one days by the Bristol magistrates for thrashing one of these boys named Offer with a strap and cutting a piece of flesh from him; and whether he will, in accordance with the Departmental Committee, take some steps to remove such boys from the association of the workhouse.

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

I have communicated with the Clerk to the Bristol Guardians about the case mentioned, and I am informed that boys remanded to the workhouse are not placed by the guardians in the charge of pauper inmates. They are received by the porter and at once handed over to the receiving ward attendant, who is responsible for them during their stay in the workhouse. The pauper referred to in the question was employed in an adjoining ward. He ought to have had nothing to do with the boys; and I have given directions that further investigation shall be made as to the circumstances of this case. The inquiry of the Poor Law Schools Committee to which the hon. Member refers only related to schools in the metropolis.