HC Deb 04 July 1923 vol 166 cc446-7
38. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, for 50 years prior to 1918, the Local Government Board published lists, entitled Returns of deaths upon which a Coroner's jury has returned a verdict death from starvation or death from privation, together with observations, furnished to the Local Government Board by boards of guardians, with reference to cases included in the Return; will he say why this Return has been discontinued; and whether the data for this Return are in the possession of the Ministry of Health?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Oxford University on the 27th April last in reply to a similar question. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of that reply. Thee data for this Return have not been collected since 1918, and are not in the possession of my Department.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to re-institute this Return?

Mr. CHAMBBERLAIN

No, Sir; that was the answer I gave on a former occasion.

Mr. LANSBURY

May I ask whether, in view of the importance to the country of knowing how many persons do die of starvation during the year, the right hon. Gentleman will reconsider his decision and have the Return taken?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The Returns that were formerly made depended on the terms of the verdict of the Coroners' juries. They were classified by the several Coroners, and as a result the Returns proved to be highly misleading. Therefore it was thought advisable to drop them.

Mr. LANSBURY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reason for considering them not right or proper was because the juries definitely attributed deaths to starvation and the Department did not, and still do not, want that fact known?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

That was not at all the reason. The reason was that there was no uniformity and no scientific principle followed in classifying the verdicts.

Mr. LANSBURY

What is the need for uniformity? It is found that a man dies from one disease in one district and another man from another disease in another district, and you do not ask for uniformity in those cases. Coroners' juries disagree and bring in various verdicts.