asked the Minister of Health the number of private nursing homes in London, in the provinces, and in Wales, respectively; what are the regulations for the inspection and approval of these institutions by the local health authority prior to the admission of patients and subsequently; and how many inspections were carried out in each of the three groups mentioned above during the last 12 months to any convenient recent date?

The Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1927, come into operation on the 1st July, 1928. Medical officers of health have been asked to include statistics of homes registered under the Act in their annual reports for 1928, but these reports are not yet available. Premises within the scope of the Act are subject to the provisions of the Act and of by-laws made under it by local super vising authorities. These authorities are empowered to inspect nursing homes under Section 5 of the Act, but my right hon. Friend has no detailed information as to their exercise of this power.