§ 36. Mr. RITSONasked the Minister of Health for the latest convenient date the average cost per head per week of persons maintained on indoor relief in Poor Law institutions; and the most frequent rate of charge per head per week for pauper inmates in county mental hospitals?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe average weekly cost per head for the year ended 31st March, 1926, including the cost of buildings and loan charges, of the persons maintained in Poor Law institutions in England and Wales was 27s. 8d. The rate of charge per head per week for pauper inmates in county mental hospitals would approximate to 22s. 6d.
§ 39. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Minister of Health if, in the case of able-bodied men performing work for a local authority in return for Poor Law relief, such relief is estimated on a standard rate of wages; and whether his Department recognises or advises a minimum rate for such work?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe arrangements made between the local authority and the board of guardians in cases of this kind vary according to the circumstances and the agreements made between the bodies concerned. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. WELLOCKWould the right hon. Gentleman sanction the paying of 7s. 10d. relief in return for two full days' work given to a local authority?
§ Mr. THURTLEDoes the right hon. Gentleman think 3s. 10d. for a full day's work is a satisfactory rate of pay?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it the intention to interfere with the giving of varying rates of wages under the Audit (Local Authorities) Bill?
§ 51. Mr. THURTLEasked the Minister of Health his grounds for objecting to the grant by boards of guardians of outdoor relief to men who have been convicted of criminal offences and served sentences in connection therewith?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINUnconditional outdoor relief can only be given to able-bodied persons by way of departure from the Relief Regulation Order, 1911, and I should have thought it would be obvious to the hon. Member that cases such as he describes would not generally be cases 1559 exhibiting special features of a kind which justify the making of departures from the Order in their favour.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that by the very nature of things these men experience extreme difficulty in finding employment? Is he not aware that to refuse them relief is to drive them into further crime?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Member did not ask about refusing relief nor did I say that they were refused relief. He asked about outdoor relief.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a special report of an officer of his Department has censured the Shoreditch Board of Guardians for granting relief to men of this character?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir, that was outdoor relief. To offer them indoor relief is quite another matter.
§ 53. Mr. JOHN PALINasked the Minister of Health if he will issue a circular to all boards of guardians calling their attention to the statutory provision that 7s. 6d. of any payment of national health insurance shall be deducted before an estimate is made of the income of an applicant for relief?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe statutory provision to which the hon. Member refers is very well known to boards of guardians, and I have no evidence of any tendency on the part of guardians to disregard it. I do not think, therefore, that it is necessary to issue a special circular on the subject.
§ Mr. PALINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this statutory provision has been ignored by the Newcastle Board of Guardians?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is also ignored by other boards of guardians?