§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will investigate the conditions in regard to the supply of food to the inmates at the workhouse infirmary, Poplar and Stepney Sick Asylum, Devon's Road, E.; whether he is aware that the allowance has been reduced, and that in one ward the allowance for old ladies is one piece of bread and dripping at four o'clock, with no more to eat until seven o'clock breakfast, when another piece of bread and dripping is served out; whether he is aware that three of the inmates in one ward died within ten days of this change taking place; and whether he will cause full inquiry to be made into all the facts of the case?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERFull inquiries have been made in regard to this case. No reduction has taken place in the allowance of food for patients in this infirmary. With a view to preventing the waste of bread, which had been noticed, instead of issuing the full amount of 3 ozs. of bread, two slices of bread and margarine, or dripping if preferred, are served to each patient, but the patients can have the full allowance if they ask for it. Between the 4.30 tea and the 7 o'clock breakfast the patients are provided with hot milk, or, if that runs short, with cocoa. I do not think there is any ground for supposing that the three deaths referred to were attributable in any sense to insufficient feeding.
1568W