Poor Law Commission

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The Poor Law Commission was a body established to administrate 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 Barshaws 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.

Edwin Chadwick, one of the writers of the 1932 Royal Commission hoped to become Commissioner but instead only got the post of Secretary. This caused clashes with the Poor Law Commissioners. This was one reason why the Poor Law Commission was eventually abolished - there was too much infighting within the organisation.

[edit] Powers

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^[1]. The Commission had the power to issue directives but there was no way to make parishes do what the Commission wanted to. The Commission however did have powers over dietaries for the workhouse, veto appointments to Boards of Guardians - therefore making it difficult for the parishes that opposed it.