§ 41. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that it was ascertained, by inquests, that in 1921 three persons died of starvation, in the unions of Hammersmith, St. Olave, and Bermondsey, in the County of London; whether his Department has taken any, and, if so, what steps to prevent similar deaths; whether any and, if so, how many deaths in that county in 1922 were found by inquest to have been due to starvation or accelerated by privation; if he can supply particulars as to age, sex, date of inquest, and union concerned; whether any and, if so, what, Poor Law officers were examined at the inquest; and whether any of the persons so dying in either year were tramps or homeless?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am aware that three cases of death which occurred in the County of London in 1921 were found by inquest to be due to starvation. The unions concerned were Paddington, Hammersmith and Bermondsey. In the year 1922 no deaths in the county were 447 found by inquest to have been due to starvation or exposure, and accordingly the third and fourth parts of the question do not arise. The death which occurred in the Hammersmith union in 1921 was that of a homeless man.