HC Deb 22 September 1931 vol 256 cc1463-5
26. Mr. MATHERS

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total amount paid out by public assistance committees in Edinburgh and Leith for the year ending on the latest convenient date; and will he give similar information for the preceding three years, showing the numbers of persons in each period?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

As the answer involves a number of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. MATHERS

May I ask what is the tendency of the figures?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

I could give the hon. Member the gross totals. They are: For the year ending 15th May, 1928, £332,000, roughly; 1929, £326,000, roughly; 1930, £339,000, roughly; 1931, £264,000, roughly.

Following is the answer:

The expenditure on aliments to the outdoor poor in Edinburgh (including Leith) for the years ended 15th May, 1931, 1930, 1929 and 1928, was:

Ordinary Poor. Destitute able-bodied unemployed poor.
Year ended 15th May— £ £
1931 … … 109,885 82,573
1930 … … 104,664 143,904
1929 … … 103,566 156,595
1928 … … 101,795 170,610

The cost of indoor relief in corresponding years was as follows:

Both ordinary and destitute able-bodied poor.
Year ended 15th May:
£
1931 71,236
1930 90,211
1929 66,093
1928 59,491

The total expenditure on both outdoor and indoor relief for each of the years in question was as follows:

Year ended 15th May:
£
1931 … … … 263,696
1930 … … … 338,779
1929 … … … 326,254
1928 … … … 331,896

The total number of persons relieved in the various years is not available. The

— Outdoor Poor. Indoor Poor.
Ordinary Poor. Destitute ablebodied unemployed poor. Ordinary Poor. Destitute ablebodied unemployed poor.
Poor persons. Depts. Poor persons. Depts. Poor persons. Depts. Poor persons. Depts.
At 15th May, 1931 … 3,933 3,002 2,475 5,782 1,177 15 159 —
At 15th May, 1930 … 4,567 3,002 1,796 3,202 1,264 31 186 —
At 15th May, 1929 … 4.518 3,297 3,814 7,783 1,323 30 273 —
At 15th May, 1928 … 3,606 2,823 3,810 7,393 1,266 39 261 —