§ MR. HERBERT SAMUEL (Yorkshire, Cleveland)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will state what was the ratio of alien paupers to the total number of paupers in England and Wales in the latest year for which the figures are available; what was the total cost of Poor Law relief in that year: and what was the cost of Poor Law relief to aliens calculated at that ratio.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe latest figures in my possession as to alien paupers relate to the 1st July, 1903, The ratio of alien paupers to the total number of paupers in England and Wales on that date was about 0.22 par cent. The total cost of Poor Law relief in the year 1903–4 was in round numbers £13,369,500, and the cost of relief to alien paupers calculated on the above ratio would be about £29,000.
§ SIR WILLIAM TOMLINSON (Preston)Has any estimate been made of the rate of pauperism in those districts which are crowded by aliens?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am not in a position to give the figures.