§ Mr. FELLasked the President of the Local Government Board if the number of persons in England in receipt of poor law relief is greater at the present time than it has been at any time for the past 30 years; and if he is in possession of any information which tends to show that the receipt of old age pensions will shortly have the effect of reducing the number of paupers?
§ Mr. BURNSThe latest date for which the number of persons in receipt of poor relief in the whole of England and Wales can be given is the 24th of last month. On that day the number was greater than that on the corresponding date in any of the past 30 years, but the proportion to population was lower than in any of those years except 1893, 1899 to 1904, 1907, and 1908. I am not in a position at present to express an opinion as to the effect of the receipt of old age pensions on the number of paupers.