§ 10. Mr. TURTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, owing to the increased cost of living, boarding-out committees experience difficulty in finding and recommending satisfactory or suitable homes for boys at the low rate sanctioned by the Local Government Board, namely, 5s. a week; and whether he would be prepared to grant discretion to boards of guardians to increase this allowance where they are satisfied that it is necessary in the interests of the child, especially in the cases of boys between the ages of eight and nine years old?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Long)I am not aware that boarding-out committees generally have experienced difficulty in finding suitable homes for the reasons suggested by my hon. Friend. A temporary increase in the weekly allowance for boarded-out children has been sanctioned in several instances, and I am willing to give a similar sanction in any case in which the guardians consider it necessary on account of the increased cost of living.