§ 49. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Health how many able-bodied persons, men and women and young persons over the age of 16, were in receipt of Poor Law relief during each of the 12 months ending 31st December, 1926, showing the miners and their dependants apart from the rest?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ Figures based on the classification of "able-bodied persons" were not obtained for the period specified. The average numbers of men and women (including young persons over 16 years of age) ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation, who were in receipt of domiciliary Poor Law relief during each of the 12 months ending December, 1926, and the dependent wives of those persons, were as follows:
| Average numbers. | ||
| Month. | Men. | Women. |
| January | 150,448 | 135,953 |
| February | 149,648 | 133,914 |
| March | 145,691 | 129,786 |
| April | 142,048 | 125,775 |
| May | 344,891 | 322,579 |
| June | 430,910 | 406,024 |
| July | 453,198 | 426,148 |
| August | 454,384 | 430,352 |
| September | 438,321 | 417,513 |
| October | 412,374 | 390,106 |
| November | 389,513 | 368,188 |
| December | 284,292 | 259,950 |
§ The above figures include men involved in the recent coal dispute who were constructively in receipt of Poor Law relief by reason of the relief afforded to their dependants. Separate particulars of miners and their dependants are not available, but reference may be made to the extensive table relating to persons in receipt, of relief in 78 mining Unions which was supplied in an answer to a question on the 22nd November last.