§ Mr. CLYNESasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he 1435W can supply details regarding the admission of Sarah Scott to the Birmingham Union about the year 1881; whether he can state the parentage of the girl, her age when admitted, or give information to enable her to trace her parentage; whether the present clerk to the union has refused information which he could have supplied; and whether books containing particulars of inmates have been destroyed?
§ Mr. BURNSI have communicated with the Birmingham guardians on the subject of the question, and am informed that the clerk to the guardians cannot state the parentage of the girl Sarah Scott. The books show that she came under the notice of the guardians early in 1881 as "deserted," "destitute," "legitimate," "aged nine years." She was brought by Martha Roden, of 14, Icknield Port Road. He knows of no source to enable him to trace her parentage. I do not gather that the clerk has refused information which he could have supplied; on the contrary, he appears to have devoted much time in trying to help the applicant, and to have engaged a man specially for some days to make a close search of the books. The books containing the particulars about inmates are destroyed from time to time. The particulars the clerk was able to supply in this case are taken from a book thirty years old.