§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Health whether he will request the Poplar Board of Guardians to prepare a Return for the information of this House showing the total number of persons, men, women, children, sick, aged, and infirm, in receipt of institutional and domiciliary relief chargeable to the Poplar Union on 31st January, 1924, and the number of such persons whop are ex-service men or the dependants of ex-service men; and will he also publish in the Official Report copies of all correspondence relative to outdoor relief which has passed between the Ministry of Health and the Poplar Board of Guardians during the years 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924?
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§ Mr. WHEATLEYI will ask the guardians to supply me with the information referred to in the first part of the question. As regards the latter part, I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by publishing the whole of the voluminous correspondence relative to outdoor relief which has passed between my Department and the guardians during the four years mentioned, but if the hon. Member will indicate the particular letters which he has in mind I will consider the question of their publication.
§ Sir C. COBBasked the Minister of Health whether the accounts of the Poplar Board of Guardians for the period during which the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act, 1921, was in force have been audited; whether any surcharge or surcharges on the accounts for that period have been made; and whether notice of such surcharge or surcharges has been given to the guardians concerned?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe audit of the accounts referred to for the half-year ended 31st March, 1922, has been completed, but the audits for the following half years are still open. At the audit for the half-year first mentioned the auditor surcharged sums amounting to £1,880. As regards the audits which are still open, I understand that the auditor has given notice of intention to surcharge, but. I have not yet received any report on the subject.