§ Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Minister of Health whether he will advise public assistance authorities that casuals detained at the institution because of illness ought not to be discharged until certified as fit by the medical officer?
§ Mr. GREENWOODA casual could not be detained even in such circumstances as my hon. Friend has in mind if he desired to leave. Where he is medically unfit and does not desire to leave, I do not think that any public assistance authority would discharge him, but if my hon. Friend has definite information to the contrary I should be glad to be informed of it.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, acting on the advice of his inspector, the Liskeard Public Assistance Committee has decided that where a person, in the absence of any local lodging-house accommodation, applies for admission to the casual ward and offers to pay, he will be charged and also detained to do the usual task; and whether he will take steps to arrange for such as are able to pay, but are unable to obtain other accommodation for the night, to be accommodated in the institution and not detained?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe advice given by the inspector was in accordance with the present regulations. The matter is among those dealt with by the Departmental Committee on the Casual Poor and I have their recommendations under consideration.