§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst poor law boards in Ireland on the increase in expenditure forced upon them by recent rules and orders of the Local Government Board, including the dispensary rules and the orders regulating fees to be paid to clerks, doctors, and other persons usually employed by these Boards; and whether, as these burdens are daily becoming heavier, he will see that no further regulations of this kind are made by the Local Government Board.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON,for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR) Londonderry, N.,A few boards of guardians have expressed dissatisfaction with the new dispensary regulations issued by the Local Government Board, but, so far as the Board are aware, their recent orders and regulations have been generally accepted without disfavour by the local authorities. The charges referred to are not daily becoming heavier, as alleged in the second paragraph. There is no power to require the Local Government Board to abstain from making regulations which it is legally incumbent upon them to make.
§ MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)Can the right hon. Gentleman state how many boards of guardians have protested against the increase of fees by the Local Government Board?
§ MR. ATKINSONIf the hon. Gentleman will give notice I will enquire.