§ MR. ROWLANDS (Kent, Dartford)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will consider the advisability of introducing a Bill to amend the Bastardy Laws, empowering boards of guardians, on paternity being proved, to obtain an order against the putative father of any bastard child born in the workhouse, charging such putative father with the cost incurred by the ratepayers for the maintenance both of the child and of the mother during the whole period of her residence in the house, such cost being limited to 5s. per week as in the case of ordinary bastardy orders.
§ (Answered fry Mr. John Burns.) I am aware of the point raised in the Question. It is one that will, I have no doubt, be touched upon in the Report of the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws, and pending their Report I do not consider that I could properly deal with it.