§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Cardiff Poor Law Union took action on the 30th April last to deport a pauper named Ellen Webster and her three children to the Rathdown Union, county Dublin: whether, in view of the fact that the Government introduced a Bill on 9th April ult. for the prevention of the deportation of paupers from England to Ireland, and that it is now awaiting Second Reading, he proposes to sanction the removal of Mrs. Webster and her children to Ireland before the passing of that Bill into law; and whether he can say what steps the Government are prepared to take to facilitate its immediate passage.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL, Tyrone, S.)I am aware of the case mentioned in the question, but no sanction on the part of the Local Government Board is necessary to the removal of Mrs. Webster and her children, and they have no power to interfere in the matter. I have twice moved the Second Reading of the Bill referred to, and it has been no fault of the Government that progress has not been made with it. They are very desirous that it should pass into law as soon as possible.