HL Deb 13 May 1897 vol 49 cc315-7

(1.) It shall be the duty of every local authority to provide for the execution of this Act within its district, and for that purpose it may appoint male or female inspectors, paid or unpaid, and may appoint or authorise in writing other suitable persons to execute the provisions of this Act, subject to such terms and conditions as may be stated in such appointment or authorisation.

(2.) Any local authority may combine with any other local authority for the purpose of executing the provisions of this Act, and for defraying the expenses of such execution.

(3.) Any inspector or other person duly appointed and authorised in writing by or on behalf of the local authority shall from time to time inspect any infants referred to in any notice given under this Act, and the premises in which they are retained or received, in order to satisfy himself as to the proper maintenance of such infants or to give any necessary advice or directions as to such maintenance.

(4.) If any person retaining or receiving such infants refuses to allow any such inspector or other person to inspect such infants or the premises in which they are retained or received he shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.

(5.) If any such inspector or other person is refused admittance to any premises in contravention of this Act, or has reason to believe that any infants under the age of five years are being kept in any house or premises in contravention of this Act. he may apply to any justice of the peace, who, on being satisfied that there is reasonable ground for believing that an offence against this Act has been committed, may grant a warrant authorising such inspector or other person to outer the house or premises for the purpose of inspection or of ascertaining whether any offence against this Act has been committed, and if the occupier of the house or premises or other person obstruct any inspector or other person acting in pursuance of such warrant, he shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.

LORD BELPER

said he had two or three Amendments to move on behalf of the Home Secretary. They were as follows: —

Sub-section (1), after the word "district," to insert the words: — and for that purpose it shall from time to time make inquiry whether there are any persons residing therein who retain or receive infants for hire or reward within the provisions of the preceding section.

Sub-section (1), to leave out the words "and may," and to insert instead thereof the words:— (2.) A local authority may, if it think fit, appoint male or female inspectors to enforce this Act, and, if any such persons as aforesaid are found in its district, it shall either appoint such inspectors or arrange for the infants being visited by ladies nominated by the local authority and authorised by it in writing to enforce the provisions of this Act. (3.) A local authority may also, if it think fit.

The object of these Amendments was to make the Bill more effectual for its purpose than the Act at present in force had proved to be, and also to make it enforceable, particularly in the country districts, without throwing unreasonable expense on the local authority. According to evidence given before the Select Committee, and also returns made to the Home Office, the present Act was really a dead letter in a very large number of places, although it was very efficiently carried out by the London County Council and in one or two other large towns. As the Bill stood, the onus was thrown on the person who takes in more than one child for hire or reward to give notice of the fact to the local authority, and he was afraid that in many cases the local authority, if they did not receive such notice, would practically do nothing. Accordingly, he proposed to lay it down as a distinct obligation on the local authority that it "should from time to time make inquiry." Under the Bill as it stood, moreover, there was no absolute obligation on the local authority to appoint inspectors, and he proposed that, where it was found there were houses where children were kept, in that case steps should be taken to provide proper inspection either "by appointing inspectors or arranging for the infants being visited by ladies nominated by the local authority, and authorised by it in writing to enforce the provisions of this Act." He believed that Boards of Guardians who had visiting committees would have no difficulty in asking such ladies to visit the houses, and make an inspection if necessary.

THE EARL OF DENBIGH

thought the Amendments moved on behalf of the Home Office were calculated to make the Act more efficacious, and would do away with the reproach which had up to now been very justly levelled against the local authorities in connection with the present law.

Several Amendments mentioned agreed to; Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 4,—