The Poor Law Commission was a body established to administer poor relief after the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 . The commission was made up of three commissioners who became known as "The Bashaws of Somerset House", their secretary and nine clerks or assistant commissioners. The commission lasted until 1847 when it was replaced by a Poor Law Board – the Andover workhouse scandal being one of the reasons for this change.
7-478: The Outdoor Labour Test Order was a piece of policy issued by the Poor Law Commission on 13 April 1842 which allowed the use of outdoor relief to the able-bodied poor . The order was issued after there was some opposition to the commission's previous order stating that only indoor relief should be used. During times when the manufacturing industries were performing poorly this became impractical - however
14-560: Is situated the relief of those aged and infirm paupers who cannot on account of their infirmities attend to receive it is transmitted to them through other paupers who deduct a trifling sum for their trouble.’ my notes The Poor Law Board write to quote this and tell the Warrington Board of Guardians that they should situate the relieving office to the centre of town so that these infirm paupers can collect their own money. The Guardians’ relieving officer reported to them (on 13 September) that
21-549: The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 had aimed to prevent the use of outdoor relief and replace it with indoor relief . From the handwritten minutes of the Warrington Board of Guardians, accessed at Preston Archive service 27 March 2012 6 September 1859. Mr Manwaring, Visitor on behalf of the Poor Law Board, had reported that: ‘In consequence of the distance from town which the office where the outdoor paupers are relieved
28-544: The Poor Law Commissioners. This was one reason the Poor Law Commission was eventually abolished – there was too much infighting within the organisation. The Poor Law Commission was independent of Parliament. This made it vulnerable to criticism from those inside Parliament. In the parishes the commissioners were almost universally hated. The commission had the power to issue directives but there
35-535: The number of persons who would benefit from an office in the Town Centre was ‘only thirteen’. The Warrington Board of Guardians decided to write to the Poor Law Board saying there will be no alteration in the method of paying relief. Poor Law Commission Edwin Chadwick , one of the writers of the 1832 royal commission hoped to become commissioner but instead only got the post of secretary. This caused clashes with
42-475: Was high and food was plentiful. But the narrow base of the economy posed the problem that unemployment could fluctuate wildly. This made implementation of the act difficult as it was a physical impossibility to build a workhouse which could hold the large numbers affected by cyclical employment. James Kay-Shuttleworth, an assistant commissioner supported the introduction of the Poor Law Amendment Act in
49-586: Was no way to make parishes do what the commission wanted them to do. The commission however did have powers over dietaries for the workhouse and it could veto appointments to boards of guardians – therefore making it difficult for the parishes that opposed it. Edwin Chadwick, the Secretary to the Poor Law Commission, wanted the New Poor Law to be implemented at first in the north of England where, at that time, there were few economic problems: employment
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