§ Mr. GILLETTasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to a case before the Mansfield magistrates on 28th November, when 24 casuals were convicted for refusal to do work, and, if so, whether he has investigated the men's complaints that the ward was overcrowded and some of them had to sleep on the boards and were not provided with three blankets each; what was the number of casuals which under the Regulations the ward was intended to accommodate, and what number there was in the ward on the night in question; whether the men were provided by the guardians with the sleeping accommodation and bed-clothing required by Article 16 (1) of the Casual Provisional Order, 1925; and whether it reached the reasonable and proper standard which the Circular accompanying the said Order declared to be essential?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. The existing accommodation at the wards is for 53 men, and I have no reason to suppose that a deficiency of the accommodation or of the provision made was connected with the offence for which the men were prosecuted. I will, however, make inquiries on the further points raised by the hon. Member, and will communicate with him in due course.