§ Mr. LAWSON(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health whether it is correct that he has issued an Order under the Board of Guardians (Default) Act appointing certain persons to act in the place of the elected members of the Chester-le-Street Board of Guardians, and, if so, whether he will state the names of the persons appointed and the reasons for this action?
§ Major ELLIOTI have been asked to reply. The Minister of Health has made an Order appointing Mr. N. B. Batter-bury, a general inspector, to be the board of guardians of the Chester-le-Street Union. As regards the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend is sending the hon. Member a copy of a letter addressed to the late guardians which states the grounds of the Minister's action.
§ Mr. LAWSONMay I ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman whether he is aware that yesterday the guardians, many of whom have been members of the board for 20 years, challenged the whole statement of the Ministry's representative upon which this action has been taken, and, in view of that fact, is there any means of investigation of this question before the Order is carried into operation?
§ Major ELLIOTI think it would be well for the hon. Member to await the receipt of the letter in which the explanation is fully set forth. I have seen in the Press reports of the debate at Chester-le- 139 Street about this matter. I understand that the debate was adjourned until to-day, when, it was said, the Ministry's representative would be present.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the charge is not one of maladministration, such as was contemplated under the Boards of Guardians (Default) Act? The charge is one of giving relief in a definite case, where the whole dispute is as to the interpretation of "destitution." In view of that fact, is there no means of delaying the operation of the Order until after investigation?
§ Major ELLIOTI think that if the hon. Member will read the letter, of which I am sending him a copy, he will see that his version of the event is not strictly in accord with the statement of facts of the Minister. The facts have been gone into very fully. At any rate, the letter states facts that do not square with the version which the hon. Gentleman has just given.
§ Mr. LAWSONWith due respect for the courtesy of the hon. and gallant Gentleman, whom the House respects, may I ask you, Mr. Speaker, this question? Here was a grave Bill put through this House for the purpose of suspending the operations of elected guardians. That Act gives very great powers to the Minister concerned. May I ask you, in view of the disability that the hon. and gallant Gentleman has been under this morning in not representing directly the Department concerned, whether the House, in a grave matter of this kind, is not entitled to have present one of the Ministers directly concerned?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat matter is not in my control.