§ Captain Stricklandasked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken to compel able-bodied vagrants to take up useful work where available; how many such vagrants were accommodated in casual wards according to the latest available return; and whether this number shows an appreciable diminution from previous records?
§ Mr. AsshetonThe general power to give a person directions to perform work of which he is capable applies to vagrants as to others and there are arrangements under which this power will be exercised whenever it is necessary to do so. With regard to the second part of the Question, I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health that the total number of vagrants accommodated in casual wards in England and Wales on the 28th June, 1940, the latest date for which figures are available, was 3,739 (including a small number of women and children), which compares with 5,098 on the 24th May, 1940, and 7,255 on the 30th June, 1939. There is no information to show how many of these were able-bodied men.