HC Deb 03 March 1924 vol 170 cc1019-20W
Mr. W. THORNE

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of relief in England and Wales at the beginning of January, 1914, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924?

Mr. GREENWOOD

The number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in England and Wales on or about the 1st January in each of the years referred to in the question is shown below:—

Date. Number of persons in receipt of Poor Law relief.
1st January, 1914 761,578
1st January, 1916 684,549
30th December, 1916 637,327
29th December, 1917 586,785
28th December, 1918 554,617
1st January, 1920 576,418
1st January, 1921 663,667
1st January, 1922 1,493,066
1st January, 1923 1,537,990
29th December, 1923 1,355,000*
* Estimated.