HC Deb 15 May 1905 vol 146 cc283-4
DR. MACNAMARA

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the Order dealing with the feeding of hungry children will enable boards of guardians to assist under it fatherless children living with their mothers, and to assist the children of wives not living with their husbands.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The Order would not apply in the first case mentioned in the Question, or in the second, if the child was not residing with the father. The limitations in the Order are consequent on the terms of the enactments under which it was issued, but in any case of the kind referred to, if the child was, in fact, destitute of necessary food, and application for relief was made on his behalf to the guardians or the relieving officer by any responsible person, it would be incumbent on the guardians, and in a case of sudden or urgent necessity on the relieving officer, to afford the requisite relief. In general, however, it could not be given on loan.