ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the recommendations of the 1834 Poor Law report with regards to loaning poor relief. It discusses the reasons why the Poor Law commissioners reporting in 1834 suggested that loaning relief should be extended to all able-bodied paupers and the eventual policy contained in the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834. The chapter considers the ways relief on loan was used by Poor Law authorities under the New Poor Law. It focuses upon the incidence of the use of the relief on loan, and for what purposes relief on loan was used. The chapter argues that while loans were consistent with the less eligibility thrust of the New Poor Law their use varied widely between unions. Reasons why this was the case are discussed, with it being argued that there was little consensus about the use of poor relief on loan.
