§ 63. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Health how many casuals, wayfarers, and tramps (men, women, and children) were admitted to casual wards and shelters in England and Wales during each week from 1st October, 1924, to 31st October, 1925, and the number of able-bodied men and women in receipt of Poor Law relief in the Metropolitan Poor Law union areas during each week from the first week in January this year to the week ending 14th November; and will he inquire how many able-bodied men in receipt of Poor Law relief served with His Majesty's Forces during the Great War?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI regret that the exact figures for which the hon. Member asks are not available. I will, however, send the hon. Member a statement giving the best information in my possession on the subject of his question. As regards the last part of that question, T would refer him to the reply given to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Southwark Central (Colonel Day) on the 28th April.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the right hon. Gentleman ask the local authorities to inquire from people going into the casual wards whether they have served in the Army or not? This was done by one of his predecessors, and I would ask him why it should not be done now?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINBecause the results that we obtained from the previous inquiry did not seem to be sufficiently valuable to justify the amount of trouble which would be necessary in order to continue it further.