§ Mr. FLEMINGasked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state what was the number of inmates relieved in Poor Law institutions on 1st January last; what was the approximate number of officials in or attached to the same; what is the annual cost of the total upkeep of the said institutions, including maintenance of the inmates and officials, salaries and superannuation allowances of the officials, and all other matters pertaining to indoor relief; whether the Order drafted or being drafted by a Departmental Committee for regulating these institutions, with their inmates and officials, will, if sanctioned by the President, have the same force as an Act of Parliament; and whether he will, before giving his sanction, permit the draft Order to be published and put on sale, so that Members of Parliament, boards of guardians, and other interested may have an opportunity of seeing it before it is finally enacted by the President?
§ Mr. BURNSThe number of paupers relieved in Poor Law institutions in England and Wales on the 1st January last was 274,110. According to returns which I receive, the approximate number of 1759W officers of all classes employed in or attached to institutions belonging to Poor Law authorities other than the Metropolitan Asylums Board is 27,000. In a number of cases the officers are only employed part time. In the year ended 31st March, 1911, which is the latest year for which complete returns are available, the total expenditure of Poor Law authorities in England and Wales on indoor relief in Poor Law institutions was £7,744,000. Details showing how these figures are made up are given on page 178 of the last Annual Report of the Local Government Board, Part I. In reply to the latter part of the question, I may say that when the proposals of the Departmental Committee are before me, I will give careful consideration to the hon. Member's suggestion.