Poor Relief - Law Commission

Reference Extent of repeal or revocation
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Local Government Board’s Provisional The whole Act.
Orders Confirmation (Poor Law) Act 1879
(42 & 43 Vict. c.cvi)
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Local Government Board’s Provisional Orders Confirmation (Poor Law) Act 1879 (42
& 43 Vict.c.cvi)
1. This note proposes the repeal of an obsolete 1879 Act passed to confirm
several provisional orders made to change the system of providing relief for the poor
in parts of Derbyshire, Greater Manchester and Plymouth.
2. According to its long title, the purpose of the 1879 Act was to:
confirm certain Provisional Orders made by the Local Government Board
under the provisions of the Poor Law Amendment Act, 1867, relating to the
Townships of Great Barlow and Little Barlow, the Townships of Cheadle
Bulkeley and Cheadle Moseley, and the Town of Plymouth.
3. Section 2 of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1867 (“the 1867 Act”) 181 provided a
means whereby a union of parishes (otherwise known as a “poor law union”) or an
individual parish could apply to the Poor Law Board for an order to repeal or amend
any local Act that controlled or regulated the arrangements for poor relief or for
levying the poor rate in the area of that union or parish. 182 Section 3 of the 1867 Act
provided a means whereby an analogous application could be made to the Poor Law
Board for an order to adjust the extent of (or to divide) a parish. In 1871 the functions
of the Poor Law Board were taken over by the Local Government Board (“the
Board”). 183 The Guardians of any union or parish would apply to the Board for an
order repealing or amending the local Act (or adjusting or dividing a parish). The
Board, if it supported the application, would issue the necessary Provisional Order.
Such Provisional Order would have effect only once it had been confirmed by Act of
Parliament.
4. The purpose of the 1879 Act was therefore to confirm Provisional Orders made
by the Board pursuant to the 1867 Act. The 1879 Act confirmed three Orders.
181 30 & 31 Vict. c.106. The Act was finally repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1950.
182 Section 2 did not apply to parishes within London.
183 Local Government Board Act 1871 (34 & 35 Vict. c.70), s 2. The Act was repealed by the Statute
Law (Repeals) Act 1986, s 1(1), Sch 1, Part 7.
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