c. 70) and took over the public health and local government responsibilities of the Home Secretary and the Privy Council and all the functions of the Poor Law Board, which was abolished.

The president was permitted to hold a seat and vote in the House of Commons, and the position was generally held by a cabinet minister.

On the formation of the LGB, the existing staff of the Poor Law Board, the Local Government Act Office and the Medical Department of the Privy Council were transferred to the new body.

[2] The purpose of the LGB was stated to be "the supervision of the laws relating to the public health, the relief of the poor, and local government".

[2] The LGB carried out its work in the following ways:[2] The board was empowered to make general orders and regulations enforcing the various statutes for which it was responsible.

The board possessed quasi-judicial powers, being able to make legally binding decisions on the bodies under its supervision.