§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can give any statistics as to the amount of work for maternity and infant care set going by local authorities in pursuance of the Board's circulars; whether he can state the number of local authorities which have not taken action entitling them to Grant-in-Aid under these circulars; and what is likely to be the total amount of Grant made during the current financial year?
§ Major ASTORLocal authorities representing 98.25 per cent. of the population of England and Wales are now carrying out schemes for maternity and child welfare. On the 1st instant, 3,038 women were employed as health visitors, and 1,365 maternity and child welfare centres had been established, and a number of other services recommended in the Local Government Board's circulars are being undertaken for the physical welfare of mothers and young children. This work is done chiefly by local authorities, but also by602W voluntary agencies working with the local, authorities. All the Metropolitan and county boroughs and 59 of the 61 county councils outside London have taken action entitling them to the Grant. The county schemes cover most of the districts in the county which have not adopted separate schemes, but there are still 68 districts, representing 1.75 per cent. of the population, for which action has not yet been taken. It is hoped that these will shortly be covered by the extension of county schemes The Grant-in-Aid of maternity and child welfare, which will be distributed in the current year, is estimated to amount to about £200,000.