§ 50. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Health the number of men, women, and children who received assistance in tramp and casual wards in England and Wales during the months of October, November, December, and January, 1925–26, and the same months for 1926–27, respectively?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINWith the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT, a statement giving the required particulars so far as they are available.
§ Following is the statement:
| Total number of casuals in receipt of Poor Law relief in England and Wales on the undermentioned dates. | |
| Date. | Number. |
| 2nd October, 1925 | 8,016 |
| 9th October, 1925 | 8,032 |
| 36th October, 1925 | 7,850 |
| 23rd October, 1925 | 8,355 |
| 30th October, 1925 | 8,234 |
| 6th November, 1925 | 8,587 |
| 13th November, 1925 | 8,395 |
| 20th November, 1925 | 8,408 |
| 27th November, 1925 | 8,154 |
| 4th December, 1925 | 8,085 |
| 11th December, 1925 | 8,025 |
| 18th December, 1925 | 7,738 |
| 25th December, 1925 | 6,726 |
| 1st January, 1926 | 8,162 |
| 8th January, 1926 | 8,531 |
| 15th January, 1926 | 8,535 |
| 22nd January, 1926 | 8,547 |
| 29th January, 1926 | 8,814 |
| 1st October, 1926 | 9,612 |
| 8th October, 1926 | 10,130 |
| 15th October, 1926 | 10,515 |
| 22nd October, 1926 | 10,514 |
| 29th October, 1926 | 10,056 |
| 5th November, 1926 | 10,140 |
| 12th November, 1926 | 10,302 |
| 19th November, 1926 | 10,497 |
| 26th November, 1926 | 10,492 |
| 3rd December, 1926 | 10,301 |
| 10th December, 1926 | 10,151 |
| 17th December, 1926 | 9,904 |
| 24th December, 1926 | 9,196 |
| 31st December, 1926 | 9,674 |
| 7th January, 1927 | 10,409 |
| 14th January, 1927 | 10,471 |
| 21st January, 1927 | 10,473 |
| 28th January, 1927 | 10,610 |
§ Separate figures for men, women and children are not available except for the 1st January, 1926, on which date there were 7,669 men, 439 women and 54 children.
§ 51 and 53. Mr. JOHN WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health (1) whether his attention has been called to the published report of the Lampeter Board of Guardians urging the need to reopen some of the closed casual wards in Wales; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?
(2) what action is to be taken in view of the fact as stated by the chairman of the West Wales Vagrancy Committee 551 that, in consequence of the Newcastle Emlyn casual ward being closed with the sanction of the Minister, the board of guardians are dependent, to discharge their duty, on the charity of two farmers, who are accommodating large numbers of casual vagrants in one barn, irrespective of sex?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThere are three institutions within the area of the West Wales Vagrancy Committee at which the casual wards are at present closed. Newcastle-in-Emlyn is one of these, and I am having special inquiry made as to the position in this union. I am not at present satisfied that it is desirable to reopen these casual wards, or that their reopening would afford any substantial relief to the wards at Lampeter. I am, however, in communication with the vagrancy committee on the subject, and with all the boards of guardians who are more immediately concerned.