Mr. T. F. RICHARDSasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that Lena Steward, recently engaged by the guardians of the Sherborne Union as a nurse, has been compelled to resign her position upon the advice of the medical attendant, G. R. Beckett, M.A., M.D., medical officer, Sherborne Union House, and who has been certified as unfit for such duties in future by H. Collier, L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S., of St. Paul's-terrace, Wolverhampton, and also certified as being unfit for future service as an infirmary nurse by H. Malet, M.D., senior physician, Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Hospital, and that this nurse has been engaged at the Wolverhampton Workhouse five years and eight months, at Wolstanton and Burslem workhouse one year, at Dudley workhouse two years, at Newton Abbot one and two months, and at Rugby workhouse two years, or a total service of eleven years and ten months, and completed fourteen years' service at Sherborne workhouse by last December; that the Sherborne guardians have refused to recommend this nurse for pension in accordance with the Poor Law Officers' Superannuation Act, 1896, Sections 2 and 3; whether he has received an appeal on behalf of this nurse, and what was the nature of the appeal and also the reply, because up to the 10th of the month the applicant has received no reply; and what action he intends to take in the matter to give this nurse the benefit of the Act under which she has been working so long?
§ Mr. BURNSI have received an appeal from Miss Steward against the decision of the Sherborne Board of Guardians that she is not entitled to a pension under the Poor Law Officers' Superannuation Act. The appeal contains representations 8 to the effect stated in the question. I am in communication with the parties, and hope shortly to be in a position to determine the matter.