§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the President of the Local Government Board if the cost of administering and maintaining casual wards in the Metropolis after the new order is in force will be a common one spread over the whole Metropolis; whether it is proposed to institute work other than oakum picking or stone breaking for the inmates; and if arrangements will be made whereby men or women wishing to leave early to look for work may be enabled to do so?
§ Mr. BURNSThe expenses of casual wards will continue as at present to be charged on the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund. The administration will be subject to the same regulations as before—qualified only by the necessary modifications. I hope that the change may result in administrative improvements. What alterations, if any, may come to be made in the present regulations with regard to the two points referred to in the question I am not at present in a position to predict.