§ 66. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the hardship involved in the breaking up of the homes of persons in receipt of Poor Law assistance caused by the action of certain boards of guardians objecting to grant relief to those whom they consider non-resident; if he will take into consideration the possibility of amending the law in this respect so that Poor Law authorities shall grant relief to all those who are in need, thus preventing the removal of recipients to other places of settlement purely for legal reasons; and whether lie is aware of the particular case in this regard where recently a woman and her family were instructed to proceed from the West Ham area to the Epping institution on the grounds that no settlement had been effected, although the family had resided in West Ham for three years and the parents were on the burgess list?
§ Sir K. WOODMy right hon. Friend is aware of the difficulties arising from the law of settlement, but the matter is one which cannot be dealt with apart from the general question of Poor Law reform. He has made inquiries into the case mentioned in the last part of the question, and understands that the family referred to arc continuing to receive outdo-or relief in the West Ham Union.