HC Deb 22 November 1928 vol 222 cc1910-1
30. Mr. SHORT

asked the Minister of Health the total number of persons resident in Wednesbury who were in receipt of Pour Law out-relief on 31st December, 1927, and on 31st October, 1928, respectively?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Separate particulars are not furnished to my Department as regards the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in Wednesbury, which is not a separate Poor Law area.

Mr. SHORT

But the right hon. Gentleman can get these figures, can he not, seeing that he has supplied them to me before?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

We have supplied them to the hon. Member before, and I have no doubt I could do so again, but I must point out to him that at the present time there is very great pressure, both upon my Department and on the local authorities, and I rather deprecate asking them to go to the trouble of getting out special figures if it is not really necessary.

Mr. SHORT

But is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Clerk of the West Bromwich Board of Guardians suggests that a large number of people are being paid Poor Law relief because they are thrown off the Employment Exchanges, and these figures would indicate whether that remark was justified or not?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I do not agree that it would necessarily indicate that.