§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether any information has been supplied to him by the Local Authorities in London, or the Provinces, as to the number of persons out of employment who have applied for work or relief; and whether he has any evidence to show that the number of the unemployed is at the present time above the average at this season of the year?
THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Sir W. FOSTER, Derby, Ilkeston)The Local Government Board have no definite information with reference to the number of persons who in consequence of their being out of employment have applied to Local Authorities for work or relief; but such information as the Board have received as to the opening of labour yards by Boards of Guardians would not appear to show that the necessity for special provision of this character is greater than is usual at this season of the year. I regret, however, to say that the latest Returns as to the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief show, both as regards the Metropolitan District and the country generally, a considerable increase as compared with the numbers last year.