§ MR. GOULDINGI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether classification in the workhouses in England and Wales, and the separation from the other inmates of the aged deserving poor, which was urged on the guardians this year in a circular from the Local Government Board, have been carried out; and if not, whether, seeing that this change was also unanimously recommended by a Committee of the House of Commons, he will consider the advisability of making such classification and separation obligatory. I beg also to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state the number of boards of guardians who have made provision for entirely removing all pauper children who are above the age of nurture from workhouses, the number of boards now making such provision, and the number of boards who are taking no definite action in the matter.
MR. LONGPerhaps I may be allowed to answer these two questions together. I am not at present in a position to say to what extent boards of guardians have taken action with regard to the matters referred to in these questions. Guardians are now considering the recommendations made in the circular which was issued by the Local Government Board, and I have already given instructions that inquiries shall be made in order to ascertain the result of such consideration. Meanwhile, I cannot undertake to say what course I may ultimately adopt in relation to this subject.