§ 13. Mr. JOHN WILMOTasked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of public assistance at the last date for which figures are available; and also the number for the corresponding date in the year 1931?
Sir H. YOUNGThe total number of persons, men, women and children, in receipt of poor relief in England and Wales on Saturday, 30th June, 1934, excluding rate-aided persons in mental hospitals, persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only and casuals, was 1,325,307. The corresponding number on Saturday, 27th June, 1931, was 966,930.
§ Mr. PALINGIn view of the fact that we are told that nearly a million workers have been found work in the last two years, to what cause does the Minister attribute this enormous increase?
Sir H. YOUNGThe hon. Member will appreciate that in the class referred to here we are dealing with quite a different class.
§ Mr. WILMOTHas the right bon. Gentleman any evidence that the increase of nearly 400,000 in the number of persons in receipt of poor relief is to be accounted for by the reduction in the number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit by reason of the changed regulations?