§ MR. MURNAGHANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been, called to the protests made by boards of guardians in Ireland against the inequality that exists in respect to the removal of paupers in different parts of the United Kingdom; is he aware that English Poor Law authorities are empowered to send back to Ireland persons of Irish birth who are past work and no longer able to support themselves, while Irish authorities have no such power in regard to those of English birth found destitute in Ireland; is he also aware that the law enables Poor Law authorities in Scotland to 303 return to Ireland people of Irish birth grown too enfeebled to be serviceable, even though most of their lives were spent in Scotland, unless it can be shown that the person to be deported has resided for five consecutive years in one particular Poor Law area; and will he take the matter into consideration with a view to a removal of the grievance.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe law and practice as to the removal of paupers is correctly stated in the Question. The Vice-Regal Commission on the Irish Poor Laws have recommended that the English and Scottish Removal Acts should be repealed so far as they relate to Ireland, and this recommendation will doubtless be considered by the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws of the United Kingdom which is at present sitting. The question will also receive the careful consideration of the Irish Government in connection with the proposed Bill for amending the Irish Poor Laws which I hope to introduce next year.