asked the Prime Minister whether he is taking steps to ascertain the facts about the decrease in the population; and whether it is proposed to appoint a Royal Commission to report upon this subject and to suggest remedial measures?

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health recently stated, the Registrar-General is continuing and extending his investigations and researches into this matter. Consultation is also proceeding so as to secure the co-operation of the committee recently formed under the chairmanship of Professor Carr-Saunders. I think at the present stage this is the most useful course to adopt.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether unemployment will be taken into consideration in connection with this inquiry?