HC Deb 14 April 1932 vol 264 cc978-9
23. Mr. PRICE

asked the Minister of Health if he can state the number of able-bodied unemployed persons in receipt of public assistance in Leeds, Sheffield, Rotherham, Wakefield, and Barnsley on the 31st March, 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1932?

The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Hilton Young)

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving such information as is available.

Following is the statement:

Average number of unemployed persons and their dependants (distinguishing the latter where possible) in receipt of out-relief during the undermentioned months.
March, 1932.
County Borough. April, 1930 (including dependants). March, 1931 (including dependants). Including dependants. Excluding dependants.
Leeds … … … 2,159 2,898 4,407 1,462
Sheffield … … … 7,751 13,754 34,701 10,639
Botherham … … … 122 201 394 161
Wakefield … … … 96 125 137 47
Barnsley … … … 155 157 325 120
The unions which, before the operation of the Local Government Act, 1929, included the county boroughs mentioned were not co-extensive with those boroughs and the desired information cannot therefore be furnished for the months of March, 1929 and 1930.
The figures for Sheffield, Wakefield and Barnsley relate to February, 1932, and not to March, 1932.

36. Mr. GORDON MACDONALD

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of relief from the public assistance committee in Wigan; the amount paid for the week ended 31st July, 1931, and for the latest week for which such information is available; and if he will give the same information for the county area contiguous to Wigan?

Sir H. YOUNG

The total number of persons (men, women and children) in receipt of poor relief, excluding casual and, domiciliary medical relief, in the county borough of Wigan on the 2nd April, 1932, was 3,249. The average weekly amount of out-relief paid during July, 1931, was £597 and during March, 1932, was £724. The returns as to poor relief made to my Department relate to counties and county boroughs as a whole, and corresponding information as to the contiguous part of the administrative county is not available.

Mr. RHYS DAVIES

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the fact that there is a great disparity between the treatment given within the towns of Wigan and Oldham and the treatment meted out to the same type of persons in the area of the county of Lancashire outside those boroughs?

Sir H. YOUNG

I should like to have notice of that question; it does not arise out of the original question. I do not know of these particular cases, but where any such disparities exist they are made the subject of immediate inquiry.

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