52. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Minister of Health whether his inspectors are authorised and have in fact visited the casual wards of the workhouses of Oxfordshire; whether they have reported thereon; and will he inform the House of the nature of the Reports?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe reply to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part I would refer the hon. Member to the Survey of the Structure, Equipment and Accommodation of Casual Wards in England and Wales (outside London)— [Cmd. 2267]. I think that that Survey has led to improvements, and, as I have informed the hon. Member, I am pursuing the matter further.
53 and 54. Mr. THOMSONalso asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware that several of the casual wards of the Oxfordshire workhouses, particularly Headington, Thame, and Banbury are insanitary and unhealthy and the sanitary night arrangements permitted are such as to call for inquiry; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter;
(2) whether he is aware that the workhouses in Oxfordshire compel the stacking of clothing of large numbers of casual paupers together, thus adding to the risk of spreading disease among the paupers themselves and through them to the community; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIn reply to these questions, perhaps I may refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question on Tuesday last.
Mr. THOMSONWhat opportunity will be given to the House of knowing the result of the inquiries on this most important question?
§ 65. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Health whether officials of his Department satisfy themselves by inspection and investigation from time to time of the condition and conduct of the casual wards of workhouses in this country; and what is the nature of such inspections and investigations and the frequency with which they are made?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINCasual wards are inspected by general inspectors and women inspectors and their inspection extends to every detail of the arrangements made for the accommodation and care of the casual poor. There is a rule that every institution provided by a board of guardians should be inspected at least once a year. In many unions, especially during the last two years, casual wards have been inspected more frequently.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this inspection is properly carried out, and that the reports are accurate?
§ Mr. LANSBURYDoes the right hon. Gentleman think there is a sufficient number of inspectors to do the work properly, in view of the revelations in the Report which he mentioned just now?
§ 73. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Health whether he can inform the House of the maximum diet allowance made to casual paupers under the Regulations of his Department: whether such allowance is sufficient to maintain a casual pauper discharging the work enforced upon him and covering daily the distances from workhouse to workhouse necessary?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am sending the hon. Member an extract from the Casual Poor (Relief) Order, 1925, dealing with the dietary of casual paupers. I am advised that the reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ 74. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that casual paupers are committing crimes in Oxfordshire to lead to arrest and imprisonment so that they may leave the casual wards and secure the greater and better accommodation, food and cleanliness of the Oxford prison; and what steps he proposes to take?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware that this suggestion is well founded. I am, however, having a special investigation made of the conditions in Oxfordshire casual wards.
§ 75. Sir CHARLES OMANasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the official survey of 1923–24 showed that in some unions the casual wards were totally unheated; whether there are still any unions which have their casual wards unheated, and the names and counties of those unions; and what steps, if any, he is taking to secure that the wards shall be heated?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINSince the survey was made, this matter has been pressed on the attention of guardians through my inspectors and otherwise. Improvements have been secured in a considerable number of cases. I will have the information on the subject brought up to date, and will let my hon. Friend have a statement as soon as possible.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this shows the results of his inspections in rather a poor light?