§ MR. WILLIAM RUTHERFORD (Liverpool, West Derby)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Sarah Mulne, brought from Russia to England by her parents when about two years old in 1894, admitted to the Whitechapel Union in 1900, and continued there as a pauper patient until the guardians ordered her discharge for the purpose of her being sent to America on the personal application of her mother, the father in the meantime having gone to America and 488 become a naturalised citizen in the United States; whether he is aware that, after being rejected in America, the girl was returned to Liverpool as being the port from which she came, and admitted to the Mill Road Infirmary of the West Derby Union, where she still remains; and whether, seeing that the ratepayers of the West Derby Union will be saddled with the future care and maintenance of this girl of fifteen years because Liverpool is the port from which she came, he is prepared to take any and, if so, what, action in the matter.
§ MR. GLADSTONEAs at present advised, I doubt whether I have any power to take action in this matter, but I will make full inquiry, and will communicate with the hon. Member.