§ 84. Mr. CLUSE (for Mr. T. KENNEDY)asked the Minister of Health, seeing that unemployment of large numbers of persons is likely to continue for some time, that consequently there will be a large number of destitute persons on the road seeking work, that a large number of casual wards have recently been closed, and that stone-pounding is now a prescribed task that may be given in all the provincial wards that are open, and which is intended and likely to deter many from seeking relief in a casual ward, with the result that deaths from starvation may be expected, whether he will take steps to secure that in any case of death from starvation or accelerated by privation, so found by inquest, the coroner shall make a report to the Ministry of Health, giving the particulars usual in similar returns that were made from about 1870 to 1918?
§ Sir K. WOODMy right hon. Friend knows of no justification for the statement made by the hon. Member and he is quite unable to accept the suggestion in the first part of the question. His officers make close inquiries into any case in which there is any suggestion that a defect in the Poor Law administration may have in any degree contributed to a death of the kind referred to and he does not think that it is necessary to ask for such an official report as is suggested.