§ Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in cases where treatment of children is prescribed by school medical officers and the parent is unable, by reason of circumstances, to pay the cost of such treatment, the board of guardians is bound to provide such treatment for the child if it is not undertaken by the education authority; and whether he will, by circular or otherwise, call the attention of boards of guardians to their duties in this respect; and whether the cost, if defrayed, will be medical relief which does not disfranchise the parent?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)It is the duty of boards of guardians to relieve destitution, and, as pointed out in the circular to guardians on the administration of outdoor relief, a person may properly be regarded as destitute who is unable to provide for himself the particular form of medical attendance or treatment of which he is in urgent need. The principle would appear to me to apply to the case of children who need medical treatment which the parent is unable to provide. I realise that the relative position of the boards of guardians and the local education authorities in this matter is one of some difficulty, and I have already had the matter under consideration. I may add that medical relief of the kind referred to afforded by boards of guardians would not involve disfranchisement of the parent.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMWhat steps is the right hon. Gentleman taking, in view of the complete breakdown of the Poor Law system which will inevitably take place, to deal with poor people, especially in the iron districts?
§ Mr. BURNSI have satisfied myself that all the authorities concerned are taking the proper and necessary steps to meet the improbable contingency to which my right hon. Friend refers.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMDoes the right hon. Gentleman say there has been no breakdown whatever, and that there are no hungry children?
§ Sir A. MARKHAMI say there are.