§ Captain A. SMITHasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can give any statistics as to the number of local authorities which have closed down 782W their public baths and washhouses during the War; how many still continue to close them; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing a circular to such authorities, drawing their attention to the importance of their resuming this valuable service, on at least a pre-war scale, as soon as possible?
§ Major ASTORMy right hon. Friend is afraid that he cannot give the hon. Member the statistics he asks for. My right hon. Friend hopes it may be possible before long to open baths and washhouses that have been closed, but, looking to the difficulty in obtaining sufficient coal at the present time for domestic consumption, my right hon. Friend does not now see his way to issue the suggested circular.