§ Mr. McENTEEasked the Minister of Health whether, in the unions where casual wards are closed, midday meals were given regularly throughout 1923, and are still given in the workhouses, to all the destitute wayfarers who, had the casual wards been open to them, would have been entitled to such meals under the Casual Paupers' Order, 1914, Article 111; if he will obtain definite information from each workhouse how many casuals obtained and how many did not obtain a midday meal; and whether records are kept by the masters of workhouses of cases where they do not provide a midday meal for the casual, similar to the records kept in the casual wards under No. 4 of Schedule C of the said Order of 1914?
2025W
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI have no reason to suppose that midday meals have not been duly supplied in the cases to which the hon. Member refers, but if he has any case in mind in which there is alleged to have been a failure in this respect, I will gladly investigate the case.
§ Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Minister of Health whether, in any alteration or abolition of the Poor Law which he may propose, he will keep alive the legal right of the destitute or necessitous to relief, given by 43 Eliz., c. 2, and not diminish the safeguards for obtaining such right, which are now given by law?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe principles of the Act of Elizabeth, to which my hon. Friend refers, will be kept carefully in view in any alteration of the law relating to the relief of the poor.