§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the changes of Poor Law relief now adopted by the West Ham Union Commissioners; if he is aware that the Commissioners have decided that the children of the parents must pay a good deal more to the family income, and that the Commissioners' latest decision is that, instead of deducting 75 per cent. of any sum above 40s., the whole amount over the first 20s. will be deemed as available for the general purposes of the family when the weekly income amounts to £4; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAINI have seen reports in the newspapers of a decision of the West Ham Board of Guardians upon the general lines indicated in the second part of the question. I do not see that any action on my part is required.
§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the West Ham Poor Law Area Commissioners have refused Poor Law relief to seven single men because they refused work offered them by the Commissioners in a sand-pit at the rate of 28s. per week; that this class of work is classified by trade unions as excavating work, and the trade union rate for that work is 1s. 4d. per hour for a 47-hour week; and that the organised workers in the West Ham Union area have protested against the Commissioners cutting away the men's relief because they refused to work at a rate of pay less than trade union rates; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have seen reports in the Press of applications for relief made by single men for whom work was available at wages substan-154W tially in excess of the relief which they had been receiving, and of the refusal of relief in these circumstances by the guardians. I do not think that any action on my part is called for.
§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the West Ham Union Commissioners have stopped the relief that has been given to George Billings, 13, Avons Road, Plaistow, who has an income of 15s., 5s. per week from the Port of London Authority and 10s. old age pension; that he has an invalid wife to support and 13s. rent to pay; if he can state whether instructions have been given to take into consideration superannuation or old age pension when a person is seeking Poor Law relief; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINMy attention has not previously been called to this case. Subject to certain statutory exceptions which are not relevant to the particular case it is the duty of a board of guardians in considering an application for relief to take into their consideration all means available for the maintenance of the applicant. No special instructions on this paint have been issued to the West Ham Guardians and, as at present advised, I see no reason for my intervention.