HC Deb 24 November 1927 vol 210 cc2077-8W
Mr. JOHNSTON

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons per estimated thousand of the population in England and Wales who, at the same date during each of the past four years, respectively, have been in receipt of Poor Law relief?

Sir K. WOOD

The number per 1,000 of the estimated population of the persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in England and Wales (excluding lunatics in county and borough asylums, persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only and casuals) on the first Saturday in November in each of the years 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927, was 27.3, 32.9, 57.4 and 29.8 respectively.

Lieut.-Colonel GADIE

asked the Minister of Health how much has been paid by boards of guardians and like bodies for the relief of able-bodied poor each succeeding year from 1920–21 to and including 1926–27?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Figures based on a classification distinguishing "able-bodied" persons are not obtained. The statistics available show that the cost of out-relief in money and kind given by boards of guardians in England and Wales, to persons ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation and the wives and dependent children of those persons was as follows: Year ended 31st March:

£
1923 10,387,000
1924 7,273,000
1925 4,964,000
1926 6,539,000
1927 15,100,000

Exact figures for the earlier years referred to are not available, but the estimated figures are as follow:

£
Year ended 31st March:
1921 500,000
1922 8,000,000