§ DR. COOPERTo ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been directed to the Report of the Workhouses Committee of the Lambeth Board of Guardians, stating that in the Renfrew Road Workhouse 1314 there were 141 beds above the certified accommodation, these beds being placed in the gangways of the dormitories, and in four of the dormitories the fire escape exits were blocked up with beds, and these exits could not be used; whether the accommodation is apportioned on a basis allowing a minimum amount of air space in respect of every person sleeping in the dormitory; whether he can state what is the air space per bed required by his Board, and the amount per bed in the overcrowded dormitories in the Renfrew Road Workhouse: whether he has any power to require the regulation amount of air space per bed being maintained; and, if so, what he intends to do in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have seen the Report referred to. There is, I regret to say, considerable overcrowding in this workhouse, but I understand that all the beds but one have now been moved from positions close to the fire escape exits. Account is taken of the minimum air space in the dormitories in certifying the accommodation, and the air space required varies according to the class of inmate. In general the Board require: 300 cubic feet for each healthy person: 500 to 700 cubic feet for each infirm person; 850 cubic feet for each ordinary sick person; 1,200 cubic feet for each sick case of a special character. The actual accommodation for which the workhouse is certified in the present case is 1,221, but I understand that in the opinion of the medical officer the dormitory space would permit of a total of 1,264 persons. It is difficult to insist on the regulation amount of air space here at the present moment; but the guardians are using every effort to find accommodation elsewhere, and I am giving very careful attention to the matter.