§ Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the conditions in the casual wards at Alton and Alresford Institutions, respectively; and if, in view of the complaints made about them, he will cause an inquiry to be made into the question of their fitness for habitation?
Sir H. YOUNGThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; the authorities responsible for the administration of the relief of casuals in this area propose, however, to close both these wards as soon as plans for extending and improving certain neighbouring wards have been completed, and in the meantime I do not propose to press these authorities to incur expenditure upon their improvement.