§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the financial position of the Pontypridd Union, the second largest Poor Law authority in the kingdom; that the bank intimated that they cannot permit any further overdraft; that the Poor Law authority was given permission by him to borrow £20,000 on condition that the scale of relief was reduced; that at a special meeting of the board held last week it was reported that £130,000 had been spent on extraordinary relief and that the total indebtedness of the board was over £250,000; if he can state the scale of relief paid out by the Pontypridd Poor Law authority; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
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Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have seen the newspaper reports relating to difficulties which have arisen in the Pontypridd Union and I am inquiring into the position. Sanction to an overdraft of £20,000 was given as stated and the total for which temporary overdraft has been sanctioned amounts to £210,000. The present scale of relief in the union is 23s. for a man and wife, 2s. for each child, with a maximum income for any household of 35s.