§ Dr. ADDISONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention had been drawn to the conditions existing at the Withington Workhouse Infirmary, South Manchester, to the great overcrowding of the children's wards, to the high rate of mortality amongst the children, to the insufficiency of accommodation for the isolation of infectious cases, and to other matters in respect of which the accommodation and equipment of the institution is inadequate to the needs of the district; and whether he will direct that a full inquiry be made into the subject, and take such steps as will remedy the existing state of affairs with the least possible delay?
§ Mr. BURNSI am aware of the conditions existing at the Withington Workhouse Infirmary, and I have seen a newspaper report giving particulars respecting overcrowding and a high rate of mortality among the children. The statements contained in this report are, I am informed by my inspector, in several respects not quite accurate. The number of children in the infirmary has increased more rapidly than could have been anticipated, but I understand that efforts are being made by the guardians to cope with the difficulty. Two new blocks for the infirm are almost ready to be opened, and an arrangement has been made with the Prestwich Guardians to utilise some of the accommodation which that body can spare in their new infirmary. It is anticipated that these arrangements will provide a small margin, but the matter will continue to have my attention.