§ MR. GOULDINGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any circular or instruction has been issued by the Local Government Board in Ireland to the guardians of the poor urging that provision should be made for entirely removing all pauper children who are above the age of nurture from workhouses; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of issuing such an order, seeing that this change was unanimously recommended by a Committee of the House of Commons.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe Local Government Board issued a circular relating to the relief of pauper children out of the workhouse in May last. I have forwarded a copy of this circular to my hon. friend. The Board have not urged the guardians to send all pauper children out of the workhouse, as until the passing of the Poor Relief Act of last session this would not have been a practicable suggestion. The matter is now under consideration in connection with the amalgamation of unions, and the Board hope to be able to indicate to boards of guardians shortly a manner in which a considerable advance can be made in this direction.
§ MR. GOULDINGWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the propriety of reducing the age? My question aims at the case of children of the age of five years.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am looking into the whole question, which I think demands attention.