§ MR. ASHTON (Bedfordshire, Luton)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that there are only nineteen counties in England and Wales in which there are institutions approved by the Central Midwives Board for the training of midwives; and that there are only fifty-two approved institutions in England and Wales, of which thirty-five are voluntary and only seventeen Poor Law institutions, of which again six are in London and only eleven in the rest of the country; whether he will say if the Paddington, Farnham, and Epsom infirmaries are yet approved; whether in the voluntary institutions the probationers have to pay fees, and whether in the Poor Law institutions they pay none; and if he can state what way the fees payable in the voluntary institutions are generally disposed of.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I understand that the figures in the Question are substantially correct, the precise figures being as follows:—
| Counties in England and Wales in which there are institutions approved by the Central Midwives Board for the training of midwives | 19 |
| Approved institutions in England and Wales (of which there are 35 voluntary (i.e., non-Poor Law), and 16 Poor Law, of the latter there are 6 in London and 10 in the provinces) | 51 |
§ The Paddington, Farnham, and Epsom infirmaries have not been approved. I have no information as to the payment and application of fees in voluntary institutions. In Poor Law institutions, there are usually no fees.