§ 49. Miss LAWRENCEasked the Minister of Health whether he can give the decrease in the number of persons on out-relief in the West Ham Union since the suspension of the elected guardians, distinguishing between the able-bodied unemployed and others; and whether he can 1104 inform the House how many of these able-bodied unemployed have since found work?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe number of persons in receipt of out-door relief in the West Ham Union on the 17th July, 1926, immediately prior to the supersession of the late guardians was 60,399; on the 5th instant the number was 28,807, a decrease of 31,592. In the same period the number of able-bodied unemployed in receipt of relief has fallen from 13,572 to 4,962, a decrease of 8,610.
It cannot be stated with exactness how many of the able-bodied unemployed persons who have ceased to apply for relief have actually obtained work, since it is not the function of the guardians to keep records of the career of persons who have ceased to receive relief, but from the information received by the guardians and their staff I am advised that it may safely be assumed that the great bulk of the able-bodied unemployed who have ceased to apply for relief have obtained work.
§ Miss LAWRENCEIf no records are kept, how can the board of guardians assure the Minister that those persons struck off relief have obtained work?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe guardians have certain information given to them from time to time, and they get information from relieving officers. It is based on that information.
§ Miss LAWRENCEWill the Minister either publish that information or, alternatively, withdraw the statement he has made? Will he explain how in the absence of statistics the guardians can give him that assurance?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINWhat I said was that it was impossible to obtain exact figures, but a general impression may be derived from verbal conversations.
§ Miss LAWRENCEI want to ask the Minister a question. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"]
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have had to tell hon. Members on other occasions that it is not in order to point a finger.
§ Miss LAWRENCEI apologise to you, Sir, and to the House. I desire to ask the Minister if he will inform the House on what evidence he stated in public that in despair a lot of the unem- 1105 ployed obtained work, and whether he will either substantiate the statement or withdraw it?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is the same question again.
§ Mr. W. THORNEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the information already given to the House was not supplied to him by Sir Alfred Woodgate, and, if that be true, will he invite him to go to see a theatrical play called "The Big Liar"?