HC Deb 08 August 1905 vol 151 cc638-40
MR. BUCHANAN (Perthshire, E.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, as Scotland has a separate Poor Law system and had a separate Commission of inquiry on the last occasion, he will consider the expediency of having a separate Commission for Scotland no

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have to say that the matter is under consideration, but I frankly admit that I am disposed to think that the Commission to inquire into the subject would be better constituted if all the three kingdoms were represented upon it, and if they were enabled to deal with a problem common to all. The fact that the Poor Law system is different in Scotland, England, and Ireland seems to me not to be conclusive against that view. On the contrary, there might be some advantage in having persons on the Commission who were intimately and practically acquainted with the working of the system in the three countries.

MR. BUCHANAN

Is it not the fact that there were separate Commissions for the three countries seventy years ago?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The hon. Member no doubt refers to the great Commission on the Poor Law which was conducted on the principles he has suggested. Whether, when we are dealing with the industrial aspects of the case and wider problems than they had under consideration, we should have a separate Commission, is a different point. Though I do not pretend that the Government have arrived at a final conclusion, I think the fact of a single precedent on the other side ought not to be conclusive in the direction which the hon. Member desires to see adopted.

MR. LOUGH

But having regard to the fact that the population of Great Britain is mainly urban, while that of Ireland is mainly rural, might not questions arise involving different treatment for each country?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No doubt the proportion of rural and urban population is different in Ireland from what it is in Great Britain, but there is an urban population in Ireland and a rural population in England and Scotland also.

MR. GOULDING (Wiltshire, Devizes)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the members of the Royal Commission to inquire into the working of the Poor Laws have yet been appointed; and whether, seeing that the subjects which they are to consider necessarily include the question of out-door relief and the problems of the unemployed and pensions for aged deserving poor, he will, before appointing them, consider the expediency of including members of public bodies who have had experience of these and cognate matters.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Royal Commission is not yet constituted, but the suggestions that have been made by hon. Members will receive careful consideration.

DR. THOMPSON (Monaghan, N.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he is aware of the desire that exists in Ireland for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the working of the whole Poor Law system of the country; and if he is now prepared to recommend the appointment of the desired Royal Commission.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I think the hon. Gentleman will acquit me of any discourtesy if I say I have answered this Question in dealing with the cognate case of Scotland.