§ VISCOUNT CRANBROOKsaid, he rose to ask the noble Lord (Lord Carrington) certain Questions, of which he had given him private Notice, with reference to the boarding-out of children under regulations issued by the Local Government Board—namely, first, Whether the Local Government Board were prepared to institute efficient measures of inspection; secondly, whether it would allow Boards of Guardians to depute one of their number to inquire on the spot into particular cases affecting their own Union; and, thirdly, whether it would take some steps for enabling the Committee of Ladies, who took charge of these children voluntarily and without payment, to become acquainted with children beyond the limits of the Unions whom it might be desirable to board out?
§ LORD CARRINGTONsaid, in reply to the first Question of the noble Viscount, that the Local Government Board were contemplating an improved mode of inspection, which they hoped would lead to more beneficial results. In reply to the second Question, he was unable to say whether Boards of Guardians 398 would be allowed to depute one of their number to visit special cases; but the matter would be laid before the Local Government Board. The question was, however, one of some difficulty. With regard to the third Question, any particular cases would be considered by the Local Government Board if brought before them. He might add, for the information of their Lordships, that no regulations of the Local Government Board prevented the boarding-out of orphan children within the limits of the Union to which they belonged. By Order of Poor Law Board, November 25, 1870, orphan children could be boarded-out in rural districts under the following conditions:—No child was to be first boarded-out at an earlier age than 2 or later than 10 years. Four shillings weekly was allowed for the actual maintenance of each child. Not more than two children were to be boarded-out at the same place. Every child was to be visited not less often than once in every six weeks by a member of the Boarding-out Committee. The Boarding-out Committee were two or more persons who had voluntarily arranged, under the sanction of the Local Government Board, to find and superintend such homes, any persons desiring profits being disqualified. The homes must be within five miles of the residences of the Committee. An outfit was supplied by the Guardians, and £2 allowed annually for repairs. From the Report sent in, and which would be found at page 39 of the Annual Report of the Local Government Board, 1882, it appeared that the children were healthy, contented, and well cared for. In some instances the regulations were infringed, more suitable homes were provided, and the defects pointed out remedied.
In reply to a further Question from Viscount CRANBROOK,
§ LORD CARRINGTONsaid, he would lay upon the Table the Correspondence on the subject.