§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the number of ordinary poor in Greenock as at 31st March, 1939, had risen by 331, and their dependants by 199, from the previous year, while the number of able-bodied poor had decreased by 154, and their dependants by 77 during the same period; how many of these ordinary poor were previously categoried as able-bodied poor; and what is the reason?
Mr. WedderburnThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The local authority inform me that in the course of the year 137 persons were transferred from the able-bodied to the ordinary category, mainly in consequence of a slight change in the basis of classification adopted by the authority.