§ Captain FRASERasked the Minister of Health how many blind persons over the age of 16 there are in the United Kingdom; how many of these are in the workhouses; how many live in institutions and hostels for the blind; and how many in each of the above categories are totally blind, or so blind as to be unable to do work for which eyesight is essential, respectively?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:According to the most recent returns there are in England and Wales 33, 564 blind persons over 16 years of age. Of these, it is estimated that approximately 3, 000 are in workhouses or workhouse infirmaries, 638 blind persons are resident in homes for the blind, and 190 in hostels. No statistics are available for a classification of these blind persons in the manner suggested in the last part of the question.