§ MR. J. DEVLINTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the Report of the admission committee of the Belfast board of guardians, to the effect that the number of provisional admissions to the workhouse which were confirmed amounted during the week ending 23rd June to 450, and the number of applicants admitted to thirty; whether the number of admissions has been largely increasing of late; whether a considerable proportion of the admissions are of able-bodied men; whether the increase is largely due to the depression in the linen trade in Belfast, or, if not, whether any other cause can be assigned for it; and whether the Local Government Board propose to take any action in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board are informed that the figures quoted in the Question are correct, but that, compared with the immediately preceding weeks, the number admitted was not exceptional. The total number of inmates is fifty-seven less than in the previous week and 322 less than in January, but is 500 higher than in the corresponding week of last year. It is not the case that a large proportion of the persons recently admitted are able-bodied men. The Local Government Board understand that the industrial depression which was referred to in my Answer to the hon. Member's Question of 25th May still continues, and in that Answer I indicated the measures which should be taken by the guardians for the relief of any exceptional distress which may arise.