§ 55. Mr. DAYasked 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. WOODExcluding 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. WILLIAMSDoes 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. WOODThere are many reasons for it, as the hon. Member knows.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYThe Conservative Government!