Poor Relief - Law Commission

churchwardens and overseers who fail to hand over the rates to the
treasurer; churchwardens and overseers to produce books and accounts
(sections 57 to 60)
(j) lawful for the Directors to borrow money, not exceeding £10,000, to be
repaid out of the parish rates; form of mortgage; securities may be
transferred; form of transfer; moneys borrowed to be paid to the treasurer;
interest payments (sections 61 to 64)
(k) ratepayers to be competent witnesses; recovery and application of
penalties; form of conviction; appeals; civil procedure matters; custody of
common seal; expenses and status of this Act (sections 65 to 73).
5. In the event no workhouse was ever built pursuant to the 1812 Act. The Union
formed by that Act was dissolved in 1835 and was replaced by a new West Firle
Union. The latter Union did build a workhouse in West Firle, the building being
completed in 1836. However this work was not executed pursuant to the 1812 Act.
6. The 1812 Act has long been obsolete. It dates back to an age when relief for
the poor, and the money to pay for this, was organised on a parish basis. As
indicated in the accompanying background note, the system of parish-run poor relief
was abolished by the Local Government Act 1929. The poor law system was itself
finally abolished by the National Assistance Act 1948. The finance for providing the
income and other support previously provided by the parish is today drawn either
from funds provided by central government or raised by local government from local
taxation.
7. Accordingly the 1812 Act is obsolete and may now be repealed on that basis.
Extent
8. The provisions proposed for repeal had no effect outside East Sussex.
Consultation
9. HM Treasury, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the
Department for Work and Pensions, East Sussex County Council and the Local
Government Association have been consulted about these repeal proposals.
(32-195-455) LAW/005/018/06
July 2009
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