§ MR. VINCENT KENNEDYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the Report of Dr. Robinson submitted to the Sculcoates (Hull) Board of Guardians on the 12th June inst., that there had been thirty-five cases of sickness with six deaths in the workhouse; will he state what was the cause of death; and what space of time did the doctor's Report cover.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaPerhaps I may be allowed to answer this Question. I have seen a copy of Dr. Robinson's Report, dated the 5th instant, in which he stated that during the previous week there had occurred in the workhouse a serious outbreak of diarrhœa and sickness, in all about thirty-five cases, of which number six had died. He attributed their deaths to that cause. He considered that the outbreak was occasioned by the consumption of certain frozen meat. I understand that the matter has been inquired into by a special committee of the guardians, who report that it was not proved to their satisfaction that the frozen meat was the cause of the outbreak. They further report that the meat was in a wholesome condition on delivery at the workhouse, but that it had not been kept under proper conditions. The guardians have not yet had an opportunity of considering this Report.