HC Deb 30 October 1934 vol 293 c8
12. Mr. NEIL MACLEAN

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state to the last convenient date the number of persons and their dependants who are in receipt of able-bodied poor relief in Scotland?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Skelton)

On the 15th September last, 63,589 able-bodied persons with 117,564 dependants were in receipt of poor relief in Scotland.

Mr. PIKE

Do those figures compare favourably or unfavourably with those of three years ago?

Mr. SKELTON

I should require notice of that question.

Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMS

Can my hon. Friend say whether the bulk of those persons were registered at the unemployment exchange?

Mr. SKELTON

Again, I must ask for notice of the question.

13. Mr. MACLEAN

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief on the last available date?

Mr. SKELTON

On the 15th September last, 162,142 poor persons with 209,535 dependants were in receipt of poor relief in Scotland. These numbers include vagrants and persons in receipt of outdoor medical relief.

Mr. MACLEAN

Is the number of vagrants under medical relief separated in the tables and in the total?

Mr. SKELTON

No, Sir; they are not so separated in the answer that I have given, but they can be communicated privately to the hon. Member.