§ Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Minister of Health whether he has received from the Melton Mowbray Board of Guardians a request urging him at once to make drastic reductions in the comforts of vagrants; and, if so, what action he has taken in the matter?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir, I am informing the guardians that I do not contemplate any revision of the Regulations in force in the direction suggested by 'their resolution.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Minister of Health what are the new schemes of detention and dietary now in force in the Epping Casual Ward; and what were the schemes which they superseded?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINCasuals are now detained in accordance with the Regulations except on three days of the week on which casuals are discharged at 11 o'clock on the day after admission. Until recently, casuals were not detained 1951W beyond the night of admission has been no change in dietary beyond the substitution of gruel for tea.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, acting on the advice of the master, the Horncastle Board of Guardians have reduced the number of blankets issued to casuals from three to two as a deterrent to casuals applying for admission there; and whether he will take steps to prevent such action in the interest of the men and of other guardians who treat their casuals humanely?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. On seeing a newspaper report to the effect suggested, I at once communicated with the guardians and was informed that, instead of the number of blankets for each casual being reduced, an additional supply of blankets had been ordered.
§ Mr. W. BAKERasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the complaint that the St. Columb Board of Guardians in September forwarded a resolution they had passed in favour of giving a meat meal to casuals to the Ministry of Health and that six weeks after, in spite of a reminder, they had still received no reply; and whether he will take steps to secure prompt attention to such communications in future?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. I was aware that a reply to this letter was delayed longer than would have been the case in the ordinary course on account of the necessity for very careful consideration of the issues arising on the letter. Every effort is made to secure that there shall be no avoidable delay in dealing with correspondence in the Ministry.