§ 71. Mr. A. HENDERSONasked the Minister of Health the number of county councils the public assistance committees of which have issued instructions to masters of Poor Law institutions within their respective areas to search all inmates on returning to institutions after leave of absence?
§ Sir K. WOODI regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.
§ 72. Mr. HENDERSONasked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that under the provisions of Section 1 of the Poor Law Act, 1930, all powers of regulating and conducting workhouses and of the government, care, and employment of poor persons therein are to be exercised by local authorities subject to the control and to the rules, orders, and regulations issued by him, he will take steps to prevent the indiscriminate searching of all inmates of Poor Law 2134 institutions within the area of the Staffordshire County Council on their returning to such institutions after leave of absence?
§ Sir K. WOODIt is clearly necessary that some watch should be kept to secure that inmates returning from leave of absence do not bring with them articles which are not proper to be brought into institutions, and I think this is an administrative matter which is properly left by the present regulations within the discretion of the local authority. I have, however, asked the general inspector for the district to look into the matter, and I will communiate further with the hon. Member when I have received a report.