§ SIR BALDWYN LEIGHTONasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called by several unions to the alarming increase of vagrancy; whether he is aware that many of such vagrants have served in the Army under the new short service system; and, if not, whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the matter; and, what answer the Local Government Board has sent to the different unions, and what steps the Government propose to take in the matter?
§ MR. DODSONSir, my attention has been called by several Unions to the increase of vagrancy, and I have made inquiries of the Inspectors on the subject, and it appears that while in several parts, especially in the Midland and Eastern Counties, there has been a considerable increase, in others there has been, not only no perceptible increase, but an actual diminution. So far as any reliable information can be obtained, it seems that several of the vagrants have served in the Army; but, as a rule, the Workhouse Reports do not show who have been soldiers, or for what period they have served. I have promised the different Unions to give my attention to the subject, and the Board have been, and now are, engaged in obtaining information to enable them to determine what alterations, if any, are needed in the law.