§ DR. THOMPSON (Monaghan, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if, in view of the dissatisfaction existing in the ranks of the Irish Poor Law medical officers, he will consent to appoint in the near future a Royal Commission to inquire into the working of the Irish Poor Law system in all its branches.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Commission recently appointed will consider the general question of the amalgamation of unions and certain other reforms in Irish Poor Law administration which have been indicated in the published warrant constituting the Commission. The deliberations of the Commission have been limited in their scope with a view to the completion of the necessary inquiries in the shortest possible time, and to the avoidance of matters which are regarded as contentious. As at present advised I am not prepared to recommend the appointment of a Commission to investigate the larger question of the working of the Poor Law system in all its branches.