§ Mr. STEPHENasked the Minister of Health the maximum amount of relief per week that is being granted in England and Wales to a man and wife with one and two children, respectively, under the able-bodied scale; and whether, in view of the severity of the winter and the hardships endured by poor people at these times, he will consider suggesting to relieving authorities a higher scale for the winter months?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe information desired by the hon. Member is not available. The so-called scales of relief do not require my sanction and, as I have pointed out on previous occasions, the amount of relief granted in any case must be determined by the individual needs of the case and not by any fixed scale. I have no reason to suppose that the guardians, who frequently do grant higher relief during the winter months, require any such admonition from me as is suggested in the last part of the question.
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§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Health the number of destitute able-bodied men and women in receipt of poor relief in London in the years 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, and 1928, respectively?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINSeparate figures of the numbers of able-bodied and non-able-bodied recipients of relief are not available. The following is a statement of the available information, showing the number of males and females over 16 years of age in receipt of Poor Law relief in London on 1st January in each of the undermentioned years who were not suffering from sickness, accident or bodily or mental infirmity.
1st January in the year. Men. Women. Total. 1924 … … 34,252 40,632 74,884 1925 … … 26,921 33,163 60,084 1926 … … 34,275 40,773 75,048 1927 … … 35,558 40,888 76,416 1928 … … 31,737 37,131 68,868