asked the Minister of Health what funds are available to local authorities for the provision of additional day nurseries to encourage a return to the cotton industry.

I think the best way is to send the hon. Member a copy of my Department's circular in which the financial arangements are fully explained.

As the tendency has been to close rather than to open day nurseries, will the Minister give any encouragement to local authorities to open them to help women who go to work in the cotton industry?

There is a much larger number of these nurseries now being opened by the local authorities and by the factories themselves.

Will the right hon. Gentleman arrange for the nurseries to be open another 45 minutes, to enable women working in industry to put in full time to qualify for all the benefits of their employment?

Certainly, I will consider that.