§ 19. Mr. T. KENNEDYasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in Scotland at the end of February in the years 1924, 1925 and 1926, respectively; and the main causes of any variation in the figures for the three years in question.
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir John Gilmour)As the answer involves a table of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ Complete particulars for the month of February are not available and could not be obtained without calling for a special return from all Scottish parishes. The number of poor of all classes, including dependants in receipt of Poor Law relief 2359 in Scotland at 15th January for each of the years referred to was as follows:
| 1924 | … | … | … | 256,006 |
| 1925 | … | … | … | 211,024 |
| 1926 | … | … | … | 247,171 |
§ Destitute able-bodied unemployed and their dependants included in these figures were as follows:
| 1924 | … | … | … | 128,119 |
| 1925 | … | … | … | 80,691 |
| 1926 | … | … | … | 113,899 |
§ With regard to the last part of the question, I am not in a position at present to make a statement, but I am having inquiries made.