HC Deb 20 May 1914 vol 62 cc1950-1
86. Mr. C. BATHURST

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the consent of his Department is necessary to the employment of relieving officers of Poor Law unions for the purpose of ascertaining what persons in the administrative area of the mental deficiency authority will become subject to the provisions of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913; whether such consent is a condition precedent to their employment in the case both of half-time and whole-time officers; whether such consent, if any, should be obtained by boards of guardians or by the committees for the care of the mentally deficient set up under the above Act; whether such officers will be permitted to accept separate and additional remuneration for this work; and whether, in the event of the Board's consent being necessary, they will, in order to save trouble and delay, give a general consent to the employment of any such officers for this purpose, at any rate throughout the administrative area concerned?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

Under the Regulations of the Local Government Board relieving officers are required to devote their whole time to the service of the guardians, and the consent of the Board must be given before they can undertake other duties. In a circular letter addressed to the boards of guardians, on 31st March last, the Board stated that they would be willing to consider proposals from the guardians to enable their officers to undertake duties under the Mental Deficiency Act. Where relieving officers are allowed to undertake such duties I think that they may properly receive remuneration for them from the county authority. As regards any county in which a desire is expressed by the county council and the guardians that these officers should be employed, a general consent would be given.

Mr. C. BATHURST

Would it not be possible to give such general consent if the county made application, even if the separate bodies of boards of guardians did not?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

If the guardians are unwilling that their officers should perform these functions and accept such remuneration, I am not sure that the Board would be prepared to override their wishes. That would be a matter for consideration.

Mr. C. BATHURST

Would it not be possible to give such general approval on the footing that in such a case the boards of guardians were prepared to give their consent?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

I will consider that.