§ Mr. Kirbyasked the Minister of Health the number of old-age pensioners in Liverpool who are in receipt of public assistance, and the cost per annum for each of the last five years to the ratepayers of Liverpool?
§ Sir K. WoodOn the 1st January, 1938, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 7,719 old-age pensioners in the City of Liverpool who were in receipt of poor relief. As regards the last part of the question the returns received in my Department do not distinguish the cost of poor relief to old-age pensioners.
§ Mr. Kirbyasked the Minister of Health whether his Departmental Circular No. 1662, has now been issued to all local authorities responsible for the administration of outdoor relief; whether he can state, in relation to paragraph 6 of the Circular relating to consideration of the rise in the cost of living, what action has been taken by the Liverpool Public Assistance Committee to implement his recommendations thereon and increase the amount of relief by reason of the known increase in the cost of foodstuffs and other commodities?
§ Sir K. WoodThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part of the question, I understand that after reviewing the position of recipients of relief the Liverpool Public Assistance Committee are satisfied that it is unnecessary to make any general increases in the rates of relief granted in the city.