Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief and the amount of rates levied
Area Number of persons in receipt of poor relief on the last Saturday in November in the undermentioned years. (The figures include dependants but exclude rate-aided patients in mental hospitals, persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only and casuals.) 1931. 1936. 1937. 1938. Administrative County of Durham 53,260 64,906 56,882 57,550 Sunderland County Borough 8,525 5,795 12,099 12,255 South Shields County Borough 3,597 4,745 4,640 5,024 With reference to the second part of the question the following Statement gives the desired information so far as it is available. The figures show the revenue expenditure on poor relief falling to be met out of rates and the Block Grants under the Local Government Act, 1929, and the equivalent of that expenditure
Area. Revenue Expenditure on Poor Relief falling to be met out of rates and the Block Grants. Amount and equivalent rate in the pound. Year ending 31st March 1931. 1936. 1937. 1938. Administrative County of Durham £981,784 £1,210,362 £1,275,278 £1,360,135 6s. 9.5d. 7s. 11.5d 8s. 2.2d. 9s. 1.2d. Sunderland County Borough £218,241 £300,773 £312,643 £306,110 5s. 9.5d. 7s. 3.1d. 7s. 4.1d. 7s. 1.2d. South Shields County Borough £100,805 £117,651 £118,280 £123,393 4s 7.7d. 4s. 1.1d. 4s. 9.4d. 4s. 11.0d.