HC Deb 14 May 1912 vol 38 cc953-4
Mr. NEWMAN

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has sanctioned the issue of a document entitled a case paper, which contains fifty questions to be answered by intending applicants for Poor Law relief, such questions containing among others a demand whether a marriage certificate has been produced for inspection, whether in arrears of rent, if in debt the nature of debt and if covered by a bill of sale, pawn tickets, etc., whether applicant has been convicted of any offence; and, in view of the fact that the applicant is calling on a public fund to which he himself may have compulsorily contributed, whether he will take care that questions such as those enumerated should not be put to a citizen seeking relief from the Poor Law fund?

Mr. BURNS

Subject to the general provisions of the Relief Regulation Order as to the contents of a case paper, the precise information to be obtained from an applicant for relief is a matter within the discretion of boards of guardians. I have not prescribed the use of a case paper of the kind referred to by the hon. Member.

Mr. NEWMAN

Do I understand then that these questions are not asked?

Mr. BURNS

A board of guardians may, of their own initiative, put to an applicant every one of the questions to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but that set of questions is not prescribed for in the Order or by the Local Government Board itself. The only reference to questions was under five headings in the Order itself, which, upon perusal—I will send the hon. Gentleman a copy—he will see are unobjectionable.

Mr. NEWMAN

May I say then that this particular case paper has not received the sanction of the Local Government Board?

Mr. BURNS

I have not yet seen it; I should like to see it.