HC Deb 07 February 1929 vol 224 cc1937-9
36. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that in certain seaports, including Hull, many workers at the docks and other casual labourer, employed in work of national importance, are permanently resident in respectable lodging-houses either because they are single men or because their homes have been broken up, or owing to the housing shortage, and that the Poor Law authorities have a rule not to give outdoor relief to these men however great their need; that if a man in similar circumstances is a lodger with a family or has a furnished room he can get outdoor relief; whether this is by his orders; and why this ban on the relief of such workmen cannot be removed?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I am aware that boards of guardians commonly, and as I believe properly, distinguish, in the exercise of their discretion, between applications made for relief by inmates of common lodging-houses and other persons, but I should not criticise a board of guardians who decided that no discrimination should be made against persons who were correctly described in the terms suggested in this question.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Will the right hon. Gentleman make that known to the boards of guardians? Is he aware that large lodging-houses, some of which are provided by the dock companies, are not common lodging-houses in the ordinary sense, but are really the homes of these men?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

That was the impression I derived from the hon. Member's question.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Will the right hon. Gentleman let the guardians know that?

Mr. LANSBURY

Is: there a special rule applied to Hull and the guardians there authorising outdoor relief to single men living in their own homes; and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he and his Department prohibit that kind of relief in other areas?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I do not think that that can be deduced from my answer.

Mr. LANSBURY

The right hon. Gentleman has said that he would not object to assistance being given to these men, and I am asking whether it is not a fact that they are being treated as if they were living in their own homes? Is it not a fact that within the last two months he has prohibited other boards of guardians from giving relief to single and able-bodied men generally in their own homse?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I said nothing about able-bodied men. The distinction made here is between the ordinary common lodging-house and a particular kind of lodging-house, and the same distinction would apply in Hull or elsewhere.

Mr. LANSBURY

Will the Hull Board of Guardians be allowed to give outdoor relief to able-bodied men?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I did nor say that.