§ MR. TOMLINSONI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can lay upon the Table any Return of statistics showing the effect of the recent coal agitation on the pauperism of the districts affected?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. H. FOWLER,) Wolverhampton, K.The monthly Returns of Pauperism which are presented to Parliament show in respect of each week the number of persons in receipt of indoor and outdoor relief respectively in each Division of England and Wales in 1893 as compared with 1892. The Returns for the months July to September have been issued. The Return for October will be issued immediately, and that for November will be presented in the course of two or three weeks from the present time. The Returns furnished to the Local Government Board, whilst they give the facts as to the number of persons in receipt of relief, do not afford the means id' stating to what extent the increase of pauperism is attributable to causes in connection with the coal agitation.
§ MR. TOMLINSONDoes not the right hon. Gentleman intend to take any special action to obtain information in respect of this?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERWhen the Returns are presented, then will be the time to determine if any special information is required to be obtained.