HC Deb 24 March 1936 vol 310 c1069W
Mr. WILSON

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the cost of able-bodied relief for each of the last five years?

Sir K. WOOD

The returns made to my Department do not distinguish the cost of relief to the able-bodied. The following statement shows the expenditure on out-relief in money and kind to persons ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation and their dependants. It is estimated that the primary cause of relief in approximately one-third of the cases was sickness.

AMOUNT of out-relief in money and kind to persons ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation and their dependants.

£
1931–32 4,289,000
1932–33 6,504,000
1933–34 7,540,000
1934–35 8,748,000
1935–36 (first 10 months) 7,491,000