§ * MR. J. H. YOXALL (Nottingham W)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, if it has been brought to his notice that of the 4,050 persons who passed through the vagrant wards of the Nottingham Poor Law Union during the three months ended 31st March last, no less than 535 were discharged soldiers, of whom 436 had served in the Army more than seven 539 years and only 65 more than twelve years; and, whether, in view of the serious state of things apparently indicated by these figures, he will take steps to ascertain the number of discharged soldiers who passed through the vagrant wards of all poor law unions during the same or a similar period?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. HENRY CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordI have already caused a letter to be addressed to the several Boards of Guardians asking that a return of the number of discharged soldiers relieved in the Workhouses and Vagrant Wards respectively, may be made to the Board for the night of the 8th of this month. It is necessary to limit the return to a particular night. If a period of a week or month were taken, the same person might be included in the return over and over again in consequence of his being relieved in different Unions.