§ 19. Sir JOHN SPEARasked the President of the Local Government Board the numbers of boards of guardians in England and Wales who have provided for the boarding-out of children above five years of age in their charge either in private houses or in cottage homes, and the number of such boards who have not carried out this reform?
Mr. WALSHAt the end of last year 566 out of 636 unions had one or more children boarded out. The Department does not possess the information respecting the ages of the children, and to obtain the information would involve a disproportionate degree of labour not at present justifiable. The Regulation which requires that all children above the age of three shall be removed from the workhouse has been suspended in 148 cases owing to causes due to the War.