HC Deb 15 December 1927 vol 211 cc2478-82
17. Mr. RAMSDEN

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of aliens in receipt of relief from the boards of guardians?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. RAMSDEN

Is it possible to obtain that information?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I do not think that it is, because the separate figures are not kept.

Mr. RAMSDEN

Would it not be of interest to the House to know how many aliens are being supported by boards of guardians?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I will make inquiries as to what information it is possible to give.

27. Mr. JOHN

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that it has been usual for the Pontypridd Board of Guardians to make an allowance to poor persons in receipt of relief in respect of coal and to grant extra relief to widows and children at Christmas time; that the board, in face of its present financial burden, is unable to carry out the usual practice; and whether he will provide a loan to enable the guardians to provide the extra relief and allowance for the coming Christmas?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I have agreed to the provision by this board of guardians of certain additional allowances to be given at Christmas time in respect of children in receipt of relief, but I am afraid I cannot contemplate further borrowing by the board of guardians in respect of their current expenditure.

28. Mr. WELLOCK

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, at a recent meeting of the Stourbridge Board of Guardians, one of his inspectors advised the board not to pay out-relief to able-bodied men, single or married, but to offer them the institution, and stated that this policy was proving effective in another district, as the applicants did not return; whether this advice was intended to cover all cases; and whether it represents the present policy on the part of the Ministry?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I am afraid the hon. Member has not been entirely accurately informed. The general inspector drew the attention of the board of guardians to the provisisions of the Relief Regulation Order, 1911, under which unconditional out-door relief can only be given to able-bodied persons in exceptional circumstances. The advice given conforms to the Regulations in force and covers all cases to which those Regulations apply, subject to the power of the guardians in an exceptional case to make a departure from the Order.

Mr. WELLOCK

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries directly?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I have done so.

Mr. COMPTON

Is it possible to inquire if the inspectors' reports are read to the full board, because we have cases where these reports have not been read?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I do not think that is the case.

Mr. COMPTON

Shall I give the right hon. Gentleman particulars?

32. Mr. JOHNSTON

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons per 1,000 of the estimated population of England and Wales who were in receipt of Poor Law relief for a given date in each of the years 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927, respectively, the figures for lunatics and casuals on out-relief being excluded?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I would refer the hon. Member to the figures given in the answer to his question on the 24th November. The number of the special classes, namely, lunatics in county and borough asylums, persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only and casuals, already excluded from those figures, is approximately three per 1,000 of the estimated population.

15. Mr. COMPTON

asked the Minister of Health, seeing that the number in receipt of Poor Law relief in one day in the month of October in 31 selected areas was 758,165, equivalent to a rate per 10,000 of 424, if he will give the names of the 31 unions; and if he will state the average rate per 10,000 in these areas for the 12 months ending October?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I assume that the areas referred to are those for which figures as to persons in receipt of Poor Law relief are published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette. So far as the information asked for relates to England and Wales, I propose with the hon. Member's permission to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. But as regards the Scottish areas, the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Following is the information:

The names of the selected areas in England and Wales and the unions comprised therein are as follow:

London Districts:

North:

Central:

East:

South:

West Ham District:

Newcastle District:

Stockton and Tees District:

Bolton, Oldham, etc., District:

Wigan District:

Manchester District:

Liverpool District:

Bradford District:

Halifax and Huddersfield District:

Leeds District:

Barnsley District:

Sheffield District:

Hull District:

Notts. District:

Leicester District:

Wolverhampton District:

Birmingham District:

Bristol District:

Cardiff and Swansea District:

The average rate per 10,000 of the estimated population, of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in the above-mentioned Poor Law unions for the 12 months ending October, 1927, was 427, as compared with 396 in the month of October, 1927.