§ 47. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Minister of Health if he will state the names of the members of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed under Section 62 (2) of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, to prepare the drafts of orders to be made under this Section 62, transferring the powers and duties of the overseers as to relief from Poor Rate in cases of sudden and urgent necessity and medical relief, under the Poor Law Amendment Act, 1834, and by whom they were chosen?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe draft of the Order in Council for the transfer of the powers and duties of overseers was prepared by Mr. Joshua Scholefield, K.C., and Mr. H. J. Comyns, Assistant Solicitor to the Ministry of Health. These gentlemen were appointed by Lord Muir Mackenzie, Lord Blanesburgh and myself, acting as a Committee of the Privy Council to whom the appointment of persons to prepare the drafts of Orders under Section 62 of the Rating and Valuation Act was referred.
§ 49. Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Minister of Health whether, before making his draft special order for transferring the duties and powers of the overseers as to cases of sudden urgent necessity and sudden dangerous illness to nobody except the relieving officers, he had consulted the medical societies or the heads of the medical profession or any of the societies for child welfare in the rural districts?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir; I did not consult the particular organisations referred to by the hon. Member, but, before the order was drafted I acquainted myself with the views of the body which has the widest experience of this question, namely, the Poor Law Unions Association.