LORD STANLEYsaid, that he wished to ask a question of the noble Marquess opposite. Several Bills had been introduced and laid on the Table of the other House, which would give increased powers to the Poor Law Commissioners. These Commissioners, he understood, were to be the principal machinery to carry into effect the Irish Poor Bill. He understood that it was the intention of the Government to remodel the whole constitution of the Board of Commissioners. The poor law for Ireland, he believed, was to be separate from the poor law for England. Now, in reading the Bill which had reference to Ireland, they would see that the whole machinery was entrusted to the Poor Law Commissioners; yet there was no Bill before Parliament showing what alteration was intended to be made in the constitution of that Board. He, therefore, wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to remodel that Commission; whether the Irish Poor Law Commission would be wholly independent of the English one; and whether the way in which this remodelling was proposed to take place would be laid before their Lordships before the Bill which would confer those increased powers on the Commission?
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEwas understood to say that it was the intention of the Government to remodel the Poor Law Commission, but what effect that would have on the Poor Law Commission in Ireland, would be considered when the Bill came before the House; but at present he could not say what its effects would be. The Bill to which the noble Lord referred was not of a temporary but of a permanent nature. There would be a Poor Law Commissioner resident in Ireland.
LORD STANLEYsaid, that as the measure would deeply affect the vital interests of the country, he thought that they ought to have before them the full detals as to the alterations intended to be made in the constitution of that Board.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEsaid, that he would give the noble Lord the earliest information in his power on the subject.
§ House adjourned to Thursday.