§ Mr. COOPERasked the President of the Local Government Board whether any reduction has been recently made by the Bermondsey guardians in the granting of out-relief; and, if so, for what reason?
§ Mr. BURNSI am happy to say that there has been recently a considerable reduction in the number of persons in receipt of outdoor relief in the parish as compared with the corresponding period last164W year. This will be seen from the following figures:—
1908. 1909. Decreases. 3rd Week in July 2,913 2,595 318 4th Week in July 2,850 2,560 290 5th Week in July 2,852 2,552 300 1st Week in Aug. 2,819 2,555 264 2nd Week in Aug. 2,900 2,601 299 3rd Week in Aug. 3,130 2,617 513 There has, I understand, been a diminution in the number of applications for relief both from able-bodied and non-able-bodied persons. As regards the latter, this is presumably due in some measure to the operation of the Old Age Pensions Act, whilst, as regards the former, considerably fewer applications are being received on account of distress from want of employment than was the case last year.