§ SIR JOHN KENNAWAY (Devonshire, Honiton)To ask the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the deposits, amounting to £81 1s. 5d., in the Post Office Savings Bank of the late Ann Brown were paid out by the Postmaster-General to her daughter, S. A. Bedford, within three weeks of her death, which occurred on January 29th of this year in the Axminster workhouse, without inquiry as to claims upon them which the guardians might have had, he can take any steps to secure from funds at his disposal the repayment to the guardians of the sum of £47 1s. 3d. adjudged to them for six years relief.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) Payment of the deposits in Mrs. Brown's account was made on February 22nd last to her daughter, Mrs. Bedford, with the written consent of the only other next of kin. No intimation was received from the Axminster guardians of their claim till March 31st. The certificate of
† See (4) Debates, cxlii., 712.1115 death stated that Mrs. Brown died in the Axminster Cottage Hospital; and I had consequently no reason to suppose that the guardians had any claim against the estate till the receipt of their application. I have no funds at my disposal out of which to reimburse the guardians for the expenses incurred by them in connection with the relief of Mrs. Brown.