§ Mr. RUPERT GWYNNEasked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the number of workhouses (if any) which during the last two years have become almost empty, and the localities in which they are situated?
§ Mr. BURNSThe number of inmates in workhouses varies from time to time, but I am aware that there are certain workhouses in which from various causes, of which the movement of population no doubt is one, the average number of inmates has become very small. These are generally situated in the most rural parts of the country.
§ Mr. R. GWYNNEDoes the right hon. Gentleman attribute that decrease to old age pensions?
§ Mr. BURNSThe decrease in the amount of pauperism and the numbers is due to several causes—improved trade, certainly old age pensions, and other causes. I find that there are twenty-nine workhouses which at this moment have only from six to thirty inmates.
§ Mr. R. GWYNNEWill the right hon. Gentleman reduce the pressure that is being put on Eastbourne to erect a new workhouse, seeing that the inmates are decreasing?
§ Mr. BURNSThe hon. Gentleman has revealed what I suspected, namely, that there was something local behind his general question.