§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Health whether he has any record of inspectors visiting casual wards at night when occupied by vagrants: and, if so, the nature of such reports?
§ Lieut. Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Health whether his 712W inspectors periodically make surprise visits to casual wards by night and to permanent departments of workhouses at meal times with a view to testing the quality and weight of food supplied; and whether he is able so supply the House with the nature of any such resulting reports that may have been made?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNearly all inspections are in the nature of surprise visits. When in a workhouse at meal times the inspector usually watches the weighing and serving of food, and occasionally casual wards are inspected by night. An inspector in making an inspection of a casual ward would, among other things, look into the arrangements for heating and lighting of wards, sleeping accommodation, baths and the supply of food. No separate record is kept of reports of these matters, but it may be said that the comments made by the inspector are usually satisfactory, and that action would be taken by him or by the Department if this was not the case.