asked the Minister of Health the indebtedness in the aggregate of all the Poor Law authorities of the country now and in 1913?

Mr. GREENWOOD:

The outstanding loan debt of the Poor Law authorities in England and Wales in respect of Poor Law services amounted at the end of the financial year 1912–13 to £11,640,830. The corresponding amount at the end of the financial year 1922–23 (apart from £5,208,000 estimated to be remaining to be repaid in respect of temporary loans and overdrafts sanctioned under the Local Authorities (Financial Provisions) Act, 1921) was £6,036,839.