HC Deb 11 November 1926 vol 199 cc1241-2
27. Mr. THURTLE

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, in the last six months, many of the London boroughs have been called upon to find considerable additional sums of money, over and above the normal, for the relief of destitution; and if, in these circumstances, he will take steps to have the payments due to these boroughs from the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund expedited or, alternatively, if he will be prepared to consider favourably applications from such boroughs for authority to borrow on account of the money already due to them from this fund?

Sir K. WOOD

My right hon. Friend is not aware that the expenditure on poor relief in London has been greater during the last six months than during the preceding half-year. Even if it were so, it would not necessarily follow that larger payments were to be expected from the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund. In these circumstances, he sees no reason to vary the existing practice by an increase of the resort to borrowing for current expenditure. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that the interval before payments can be made from the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund has already been materially shortened and my right hon. Friend regrets that no further revision of practice in this respect is possible.

Mr. THURTLE

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these payments may still be in arrear for something like 12 months, and will he be prepared to consider sympathetically a request from the Shoreditch Board of Guardians for a loan?

Sir K. WOOD

I am afraid I cannot hold out any hope of revision, but I have gone into the matter myself to-day, and if the hon. Member would like to see me about it, I will gladly go through it with him again.