§ MR. JOHN BURNS (Battersea)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether he has considered the advisability of holding a Local Government Board inquiry into the irregularities committed by the relieving officers of St. Pancras in the matter of the transfer and custody of pauper lunatics from that union.
§ MR. CHAPLINI am much obliged to my hon. friend for the opportunity of stating what action the Local Government Board have taken and are taking in this matter. There can be no doubt that the irregularities referred to, unless they are promptly and effectually stopped, would inevitably lead to scandals of the gravest kind, and I have directed an immediate investigation by the Local Government Board into this matter. Apart from the cases referred to there is reason to believe that the system is more or less widely practised elsewhere in the Metropolis. Pending the inquiry therefore, I have directed a communication to 1340 be made to the Metropolitan Boards of Guardians to the effect that in the opinion of the Board the practice is altogether indefensible, and that any officer offending in this respect in the future should be dismissed. As to the past, when I have the results of the inquiry before me I shall be better able to judge if any further action on the part of the Board is required.