HC Deb 28 July 1938 vol 338 c3279
28. Mr. Day

asked the Home Secretary the number of coroners' verdicts returned, during 1935 and 1936, of death due to destitution, exposure, etc.?

Sir S. Hoare

Table XXV of the Annual Criminal Statistics shows that during 1935 verdicts of death from want, exposure, etc., were returned in 57 cases and during 1936 in 61 cases. These figures include verdicts of death from disease aggravated by exposure or by self-neglect and also includes cases where the exposure or self-neglect was not due to destitution.

Mr. Day

Will the Minister consider consulting his colleagues to see whether some provision cannot be made to prevent those people dying from want and exposure?

Sir S. Hoare

I will consider the hon. Member's point, but he will see from my answer that a good many factors seem to enter into the cause of these deaths.