HC Deb 15 May 1928 vol 217 cc857-8
55. Mr. DAY

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any statistics that will show the greatest number of persons that were in receipt of relief, excluding casuals, in Great Britain on one day in the winter of 1927 and 1928, or at the last convenient winter date?

Sir K. WOOD

Excluding lunatics in county and borough asylums, persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only, and casuals, totalling about 127,000, the greatest number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in England and Wales on any Saturday in the winter of 1927–28 was 1,255,251 on the 7th January, 1928. As regards Scotland, I would refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Does the right Gentleman realise that the figure which he has just given is equivalent to an increase of a quarter of a million over the corresponding period in 1924, and will he say why that is so?

Sir K. WOOD

There are many reasons for it, as the hon. Member knows.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

The Conservative Government!

Forward to