MR. BUXTONasked the President of the Local Government Board, with reference to the steadily-increasing figures of pauperism in the Metropolis, Whether the present rate of increase is due to any special cause, or whether it is only an increase proportionate to the estimated increase in the population of the Metropolis?
§ MR. DODSONIn reply to the Question of my hon. Friend, I am glad to say that the increase in the pauperism of the Metropolis during the last few years does not exceed the proportionate increase in the population. On the contrary, it is rather loss than might have been expected from the growth of the population. The increase has practically been confined to the last three years; and if the statistics of London pauperism between 1871 and 1882 are examined, it will be found that there has been a very large diminution in the number of paupers. In the year 1871 the number was 361 153,293; while in 1882 it was 100,323, showing a diminution of 52,970, although the population had increased by upwards of 600,000 persons. This result is the more satisfactory because the reduction has taken place entirely among the outdoor paupers. Between 1871 and 1882 there has been an increase of 14,396 in the number of indoor paupers in the Metropolis; but the number of outdoor paupers has been reduced by no less than 67,306 persons.