§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can 1228W give any comparative statistics of the number of able-bodied paupers in the various workhouses of the country and passing through them, as compared with 1914; and whether, if there is any considerable number of able-bodied inmates of both sexes or of persons who resort to the casual ward, he will consider recommending to the local authorities to give powers to the masters of the workhouses to find employment for these people in connection with farms and market gardens as a condition of relief during the War?
§ Mr. LONGI have no very recent statistics on the subject, but, according to the information in my possession, there are practically no able-bodied paupers in the workhouses at the present time, and it is often difficult to find sufficient inmate labour to carry on the necessary work of the institution. Any men who are at all able to work would be found employment by the guardians.