§ Mr. GERALD HURSTasked the Minister of Health what is the approximate number of children boarded out with families by Poor Law authorities in England; how many inspectors are employed by the Ministry of Health for the purpose of visiting such children; and how many visits are paid by them in an average year?
§ Mr. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAINOn the 1st January, 1925, there were 10,489 children boarded out by Poor Law authorities in England and Wales. There are now 10 women inspectors whose work includes the inspection of boarding-out. Their duties in this connection are to ascertain and report upon the manner in which Boarding-out Committees are carrying out their work and to advise Committees, and they are constantly in touch with such Committees. The actual inspection of individual children and of50W the homes of foster parents is a duty of the Boarding-out Committee themselves. The Regulations require that each child and its home shall be visited not less often than once in every six weeks by a woman member of the Boarding-out Committee or by a paid woman visitor appointed by the guardians.