HC Deb 13 December 1928 vol 223 cc2344-5W
Mr. SHEPHERD

asked the Minister of Health whether he will recommend to all boards of guardians immediately to provide bed boards for all casuals who would otherwise be compelled to sleep on the floor?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

My officers have been instructed to press for this provision in all cases in which there is a shortage of accommodation which cannot be better met by inure complete measures.

Mr. R. RICHARDSON

asked the Minister of Health whether, when James Wilder was sentenced to bread-and-water diet for a week, the clerk was present; if so, has any explanation been given why the clerk did not tell the guardians that they had no power to sentence Wilder to such diet for more than 48 hours; whether he will ask the inspector to report at once as to the Easthampstead Infirmary; and whether the allegations made by Wilder were in whole or in part correct?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The reply to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part of the question, the infirmary has been visited by my officers, and as regards the fourth the answer is in the negative.

Mr. SHEPHERD

asked the Minister of Health whether he has recently made any recommendations to boards of guardians with regard to the improvement of the dietary for casuals; and, if so, will he state what they are?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I have directed my officers to bring to the attention of boards of guardians the importance of exercising their power of supplying raw onions and other fresh vegetables as part of the dietary of vagrants.

Name of Poor Law Union. Number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief (excluding lunatics in asylums, casuals and persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only) on the last Saturday in November.
1913. 1925. 1926. 1927. 1928.
Bridgend and Cowbridge 1,878 9,904 33,313 5,070 4,581
Cardiff 5,090 13,521 18,575 13,878 11,314
Gower 240 360 918 356 361
MerLhyr Tydfil 4,080 22,018 65,077 12,621 14,424
Neath 3,027 10,297 29,191 8,662 8,152
Pontardawe 704 1,174 7,422 1,289 1,308
Pontypridd 6,903 30,180 82,389 18,307 20,337
Swansea 3,625 6,057 14,596 8,195 6,457
Totals for Union County of Glamorgan. 25,547 93,511 251,481 68,378 66,941