§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Health if he will state the conditions governing the appointment of relieving officers; and whether, if any such officer grants relief over the scale sanctioned by the Ministry of Health, a surcharge for such amount is made upon and against, him or upon the guardian or guardians who sit with him?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYRelieving officers are appointed by the hoards of guardians. The only condition governing their appointment is that they shall have reached the age of 21 and be able to keep accounts, but it has been intimated to the guardians that it is desirable that they should usually be men who have had previous Poor Law experience. A reliev- 435W ing officer has no authority to give relief without an order of the guardians except in a case of sudden or urgent necessity. In such a case he is authorised to grant relief in kind only. It is the duty of a relieving officer to carry out the lawful orders of the guardians, and in a case which is not one of sudden or urgent necessity the officer would be liable to a surcharge if he gave relief in excess of such orders.