asked the Minister of Labour what is the present annual cost of the Employment Exchanges throughout the country in establishment, salaries, and cost of buildings?

The estimated cost of the employment exchange service in 1923–24 is £4,214,357. This includes salaries, premises and all other charges, whether borne on the Vote of the Ministry of Labour or not. £4,064,792 (or all but about £200,000) out of this total is in respect of the administration of unemployment insurance, including the offer of employment to those claiming benefit; it amounts to 8·3 per cent of the revenue of the Unemployment Fund and it is recovered in full from the Fund.