§ 37 and 38. Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Local Government Board (1) whether the Departmental Committee of the Local Government Board for the revision of Poor Law Orders contains any of the same members who were responsible for the draft Relief Regulation Order, 1910, and the draft Poor Law Destitution Order, 1913, both of which had to be 1006 greatly modified before sanction; if so, will he give the names of such members; will he consider adding to the present Departmental Committee direct representatives of the working people; and (2) whether the Departmental Committee is now engaged in revising the Poor Law Orders as to the duties of relieving officers and other matters; whether he will see that any such Order before being sanctioned is laid before Parliament and the House given an opportunity of considering it; and will he refuse sanction to any proposed Order which takes away or diminishes the responsibilities and liabilities of relieving officers for the relief of the poor, especially in regard to such as are in a condition of sudden or urgent necessity?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Long)The Departmental Committee on the Poor Law Orders contains four members—Sir S. B. Provis, Sir J. S. Davy, Mr. W. T. Jerred, and Mr. T. Smith—who were members of the Committee at the time when they presented the Reports to which the hon. Member refers. The Committee are now examining the regulations respecting the duties of relieving officers and other Poor Law officers, and when I receive their Report I will consider whether it should be presented to Parliament. The nature of the work upon which the Committee is engaged is such that I do not think there would be any advantage in enlarging its membership in the manner suggested.