EARL RUSSELLMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government whether a Report has been called for upon the administration of out-relief to women and children; whether the Report is being prepared by the Poor Law inspectors of the Local Government Board in the various unions; how many inspectors there are, distinguishing men and women; and whether the inquiry is being mainly conducted by the women inspectors.
§ VISCOUNT SANDHURSTMy Lords, in reply to my noble friend I may say that the Local Government Board are obtaining Reports from their general inspectors upon certain questions relating to the administration of relief to widows and children by boards of guardians in their districts. The general inspectors in charge of districts are fourteen in number, and there are seven women inspectors.
§ VISCOUNT SANDHURSTI understand they are in addition. The general inspectors are responsible for the Reports for their districts, but detailed inspections in connection with the matter have been made by the women inspectors in a number of unions.
EARL RUSSELLMay I ask the noble Viscount a supplementary question arising out of that? He will notice that in the last line I ask whether the inquiry is being mainly conducted by the women inspectors. I understood the noble Viscount to say that the inquiry is being made by the women inspectors in a number of unions' but I emphasise the point whether it is the rule that the inquiry is being made by women inspectors or by men.
§ VISCOUNT SANDHURSTI have given my noble friend the information with which I have been furnished; but to meet his convenience I will make further inquiry upon that point, and also as to whether I am correct in my assumption that the seven women inspectors are in addition to the fourteen.