§ SIR EDWARD SASSOON (Hythe)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the occupants of the Jones' Homes
†See (4) Debates, clxix., 551.533 at Sandgate, numbering about 200 souls, are deprived of all religious ministration; and whether he would take steps to remedy this state of things, in view of the fact that they are mostly Poor Law invalids and consequently entitled to it.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (MR.JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaI have made inquiry on this subject, and am informed that it is not the case that the patients in these homos are deprived of religious ministration. I understand that a clergyman of the Church of England has visited them regularly, both on Sundays and weekdays, for some months past, and that he has also given services in the homes regularly on Sunday evenings. It is further stated that a Roman Catholic priest has visited the homes from time to time for some yours past, that there are a number of persons who are continually visiting the homes and giving religious teaching to the inmates, and that if a patient who is ill expresses a wish to see a minister of any denomination, one is immediately called in. It is added that the majority of the inmates are sufficiently well to attend service at the places of worship in the town, and that, if they desire it, they can do so.