§ 14. Mr. WEDGWOODasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the attempted suicide of Julia Neil because she was parted from her children and sent to a different workhouse; whether it is against the regulations that mothers should be parted from their children when driven by hunger into the workhouse; and why the regulation is not carried out at Renfrew Road workhouse?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)I have made inquiries into this case. As my hon. Friend is aware, it would be altogether contrary to present policy for adults and children to be permanently placed in the same Poor Law institution; but the regulations—which I do not find have been contravened in the present case—provide that, while adults and children are to be, as far as practicable, accommodated in different premises, opportunities are to be afforded to a mother for seeing her children at reasonable intervals.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODIs it in accordance with the regulations of the Local Government Board to separate a mother from her child, although she does not want to be separated from it?
§ Mr. BURNSUnder certain circumstances, yes. In the case to which the hon. Member refers, the child had ringworm rather severely, and the mother had to be separated from the child.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODIs this mother back to her child, or is she still locked up?
§ Mr. BURNSNo. I am sorry to say that this poor woman unfortunately has had to be sent to Long Grove Asylum.