§ Mr. KINGasked the President of the Local Government Board whether the power of the Board under the Poor Laws to make regulations includes a power to require boards of guardians to supply well-printed copies of the Bible to all inmates of workhouses or Poor Law infirmaries who desire to have such a copy; and, if so, whether the Board will by regulation impose such an obligation?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe power of the Local Government Board to make regulations for the Government of Poor Law Institutions would no doubt enable them to make a regulation requiring the guardians to supply copies of the Bible to inmates of workhouses or infirmaries, but it is not the policy of the Board to interfere more than is necessary with the guardians' administration, and I think that this is a matter which may well be left to their discretion.