86. Mr. SIMONasked the Minister of Health whether he has any evidence to show whether the practice of allowing Poor Law guardians to administer out-relief in the wards which they represent is compatible with judicial administration?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI have no direct evidence in the direction suggested, but there are a number of instances in which the guardians themselves have thought the practice referred to was an undesirable one.
87. Mr. SIMONasked the Minister of Health how many local administrative schemes he has approved under the Local Government Act, 1929; and how many of these permit members of the Public Assistance Committee to administer out-relief in the wards which they represent?
§ Mr. GREENWOODSchemes have been approved for the whole of the 62 counties and 83 county boroughs in England and Wales. The actual administration of out-relief will normally be in the hands of the Public Assistance Committees established by the schemes, but the consideration of applications for relief, which I apprehend to be in the mind of the hon. Member, is in county areas placed by the Act of 1929 in the hands of the Guardians Committees, the constitution of which is prescribed by the Act. There are five cases in which the administrative schemes approved for county boroughs contain a definite prohibition of the arrangement referred to in the latter part of the question.
Mr. SIMONIn view of the undesirability of this practice, is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to take any action to prevent the practice continuing in so many areas?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am not clear that I have power to do so. I should 2080 like to leave the maximum freedom to the local authorities in arranging their scales.