§ Mr. RAPERasked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of widows' children in industrial schools and orphan homes, such as Dr. Barnardo's, Waifs and Strays, etc., and the cost of their maintenance therein; the number of widows' children in Poor Law institutions, and the cost of their maintenance therein?
§ Major ASTORNo collated or official figures are available as to the maintenance, cost, or the number of widows' children in such orphan homes as are referred to in the question I am informed by the Home Office that the average cost of maintenance in industrial schools is about 16s. to 18s. per week, but figures are not available as to the number of widows' children therein. The number of widows' children receiving what is termed "indoor relief" on 1st January, 1914 (the latest date available), was about 18,000, but many of these were paid for by the guardians at institutions not directly under the Poor Law. In no case are figures available as to their cost of maintenance.