§ MR. H. J. WILSON (Yorkshire, W.R., Holmforth)To ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been drawn to a report made by an assistant inspector, in July last, regarding the children in the St. John's Road Workhouse of the Islington Board of Guardians, which states that the number of children over three years old normally in the workhouse appeared regrettably large; that recently there were nearly sixty such children, and that there appeared to be rarely less than thirty who remain in the workhouse from a fortnight to three weeks or a month; that there were no means of separating the children from the adults, or of instructing, amusing, or supervising them; and that some of the boys slept at night on the floor in a room in which were adult in-mates; and if he will state what steps have been taken to remedy this state of affairs.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am aware of the report referred to, and have been in communication with the guardians on the subject. I am glad to say that the latest figures I have seen show that, in the week ended on the 24th inst., there were only thirteen children above three years of age in the workhouse. Some new buildings are being erected there and are nearly completed. I am assured that when they can be used better arrangements will be made for the children. I will not lose sight of the matter.