§ 36. Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief from 1st October, 1931, to 31st March, 1932?
Sir H. YOUNGThe returns made to my Department show the number of persons in receipt of poor relief on particular days and not the number of persons who received poor relief during a period. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement as to the number of persons in receipt of poor relief in England and Wales on the last Saturday in each month from September, 1931, to March, 1932.
§ Following is tire statement:
| TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS (men, women and children) in receipt of poor relief on the last Saturday in the undermentioned months. | |||
| September, 1931 | … | … | 1,005,813 |
| October, 1931 | … | … | 1,050,342 |
| November, 1931 | … | … | 1,089,023 |
| December, 1931 | … | … | 1,127,006 |
| January, 1932 | … | … | 1,188,628 |
| February, 1932 | … | … | 1,219,701 |
| March, 1932 | … | … | 1,220,000 (approximate) |
§ These figures do not include rate-aided patients in mental hospitals.
§ 34. Mr. LAWSON (for Mr. LUNN)asked the Minister of Health if he will state what was the total number of men and women on Poor Law relief at the end of July, 1931; and what was the total at the end of March, 1932, or up to the latest date available?
Sir H. YOUNGExact figures cannot be given, but it is estimated that approximately 284,000 men and 366,000 women were in receipt of relief at the end of 299 July, 1931, and approximately 348,000 men and 448,000 women at the end of March, 1932.
§ Mr. LAWSONCan the right hon. Gentleman give the House any explanation of that increase?