§ MR. J. DEVLINTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any steps have yet been taken to prepare a scheme of Poor Law reform on the lines laid down in the Vice-Regal Commission Report; if not, whether he will see that in the preparation of that scheme the opinion of persons who have practical experience of the working of the Irish Poor Laws and of Poor Law administration will be invited; and whether he will urge the immediate preparation of such a scheme.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board are at present engaged in shaping the general outlines of a scheme; but until the Report of the Royal Commission is before them, and the question of the future areas of rating is definitely determined, it will not be possible to fill in the details of any scheme with sufficient completeness to enable them to submit it to the local authorities.