§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the President of the Local Government Board what is the average cost per week for the maintenance of an able-bodied man or woman in a Metropolitan workhouse, including establishment charges; what credit do boards of guardians receive for the reduction of rates by the work performed by these persons; the average cost for the maintenance of a child in scattered homes, cottage homes, and barrack schools, respectively; 382 and if he can give the average cost to the poor rate of the maintenance of a man, wife, and family of four children in Metropolitan Poor Law institutions for persons, in health?
§ Mr. BURNSIt is not practicable to give the exact cost of able-bodied paupers, but if the cost be based on the net indoor expenditure for "in-maintenance," "salaries," "buildings, etc." (but not including "loan charges"), the average cost of all indoor paupers in London is 10s. 9d. a week. The cost of able-bodied; paupers must be assumed to be less. Calculated on a similar basis, the average weekly cost of a child in scattered homes, cottage homes, and other separate schools provided by Metropolitan guardians is about 9s., 11s. 2d., and 11s. 9d. a week respectively. The work performed by inmates of workhouses is not valued. The amount received from sales of garden produce, firewood, broken stone, etc., by Metropolitan guardians in the year ended March, 1911, was about £25,000. I doubt if it is possible to give the average cost of a family such as the hon. Member refers to, since the cost would vary according to the circumstances.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the right hon. Gentleman print with the Votes a statement showing the cost per individual in a Poor Law institution for a healthy person, including establishment charges, based on exactly the same kind of figures as those used in connection with the Hollesley Bay Colony?
§ Mr. BURNSI have done my best to give the hon. Member the information he seeks. If he will put down another question similar to the one he has just asked I will do my best to answer it.