§ MR. BROOKEI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will state what are the unions in which he has altered the conditions of the modified labour test, as sanctioned by him in January of this year; and in what respects those alterations change the original conditions.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSThe ordinary modified workhouse test order is only issued temporarily. I have not altered the conditions referred to in it as regards any union in which it is in force. In the case of Poplar, where the temporary order expired at the end of June last, 1787 I have issued a permanent order laying down the conditions under which relief may be given out of the workhouse to the family of an able-bodied man relieved in the workhouse. By these conditions the period during which relief out of the workhouse may be given to the family in such cases is limited to eight weeks in any year ending at Lady-Day, and some restrictions are placed on the period during which the man may be temporarily absent from the workhouse. If the prescribed conditions are violated, relief to the man and his family during a period of twelve months can, subject to certain exceptions, only be given in the workhouse.