asked the Minister of Health whether he has received an application from the board of guardians for the parish of St. Mary, Islington, London, N., asking for sanction to close the Liverpool Road Dispensary, where poor persons from Nos. 3a, 6, 7, 9 and 10 relief districts receive medical relief, and to compel the sick poor to attend the Highbury Dispensary for treatment and medicine; whether, seeing that the population of Islington is 330,737, and that one dispensary is inadequate for the needs of the sick poor of that parish, he will make full inquiries before sanctioning the request; and if, in the opinion of his medical advisers, it is found that the present dispensary accommodation is inadequate, he will take steps to ensure that due provision is made for treating the sick poor in Islington?

Mr. GREENWOOD:

My right hon. Friend is in communication with the guardians in regard to this proposal, and the application will be carefully considered from the point of view mentioned in the latter part of the question.