§ Captain BOURNEasked the Minister of Health whether a proposal has been laid before him for the closing of the Woodstock Casual Ward and what will he the distances by road from the Oxford Casual Ward to those of Ban-bury and Chipping Norton; whether he has considered the effect of such distances on men and women of the general stamina of casuals who will have to perform the appointed task on the following day; and whether he will decline to sanction such proposal?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe distances from the Oxford Casual Ward to the Banbury and Chipping Norton wards are 19 miles and 22 miles, respectively. No definite application for my consent to the closing of the Woodstock ward has yet been made to me. If one is made, I will carefully consider all the relevant circumstances, including the position of any casual ward, other than that at Woodstock, at which these journeys could be broken.