§ 25. Mr. THURTLEasked the Minister of Health whether it is the policy of his Department to instruct boards of guardians not to allow out-door relief to any unmarried couples with children, or whether boards of guardians are permitted to grant relief to such couples with children when the association has been of long standing?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe Regulations in force prohibit the grant of outdoor relief to single women and to widows having an illegitimate child born after the commencement of widowhood, but the guardians are empowered, upon consideration of the special circumstances of any particular case, to depart from this Regulation and due weight would be given to such long association as is referred to in the last part of the question when the making or approving of such a departure is under consideration.
§ Mr. THURTLEWould the Minister consider 10 years a reasonable period?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI should not like to lay down a hard and fast rule; but that point will certainly be taken into consideration.