§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the President of the Local Government Board if a labour master at Belmont workhouse, who was one of the chief witnesses against the men charged in connection with the recent riot at that place, was formerly employed by the Bermondsey Board of Guardians and dismissed owing to his being found guilty of indecent behaviour; that since the riot he has been dismissed by the Belmont workhouse authorities for a grave breach of discipline; and whether, under these circumstances, he will cause inquiry to be made as to how it was possible for a man with such a record to obtain so responsible 1352 a position as that of labour master at Belmont within a few weeks of a police conviction?
§ Mr. BURNSThe facts regarding the man's leaving the employment of the Bermondsey Guardians are, I understand, generally as stated in the question. The Fulham Guardians did not communicate with Bermondsey when he was engaged at Belmont as his appointment was only a temporary one. When permanent appointments were made at Belmont he was given a week's notice of the termination of his temporary engagement, and I am informed that it was during this week that the breach of discipline, to which the hon. Member refers, took place. He was one of the witnesses at the police court proceedings last December, but I understand that no inmate was convicted on his uncorroborated evidence.