Explanatory note

Of the enactments specified in the schedule to the regulations, those in the Merchant Shipping Acts make poor relief granted to the families of certain seamen absent on voyages a charge on a proportion of the wages of the seamen and provide for the enforcement of the charge. They also subject to a fine masters or owners of British ships and consignees of foreign ships who leave certain seamen from abroad in the United Kingdom, if these seamen subsequently require to be granted poor relief, and enable the fine to be applied towards the relief of the seamen.

The specified enactments in the Children and Young Persons Acts make it an offence for a parent to fail to obtain poor relief for his child if he cannot provide the child with the necessities of life, and enable a poor law authority to bring before a juvenile court a refractory child for whose care they are responsible with a view to the child being sent to an approved school.

The specified enactments in the Polish Resettlement Act enable the National Assistance Board to meet the needs, other than medical needs as defined in the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1934, of Poles accommodated by the Board in camps provided by the Board, to make charges for accommodation in camps and other benefits provided to meet the needs of Poles and to recover the charges from certain specified persons who would be liable relatives under the poor law.

In consequence of the replacement of the poor law by provisions of the National Assistance Act, 1948, and the Children Act, 1948, the regulation adapt the Merchant Shipping Acts so as to make them applicable in relation to the provision of services under the National Assistance Act, 1948, or the Children Act, 1948.

In further consequence of that replacement, the regulations adapt the Children and Young Persons Acts so as to enable offences by parents to continue to be prosecuted, and to enable local authorities to continue to bring refractory children in their care before juvenile courts.

Finally, in consequence of the replacement of the poor law and the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1934, by provisions of the National Assistance Act, 1948, the regulations adapt the specified enactments in the Polish Resettlement Act so as to enable charges made for the provision of assistance under that Act to continue to be recovered.