asked the Minister of Health how many sessions in consultative dental surgery are available for the population of the Coventry and South Warwickshire area; whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in this area over the inadequacy of the consulting dental service; and if he will make a statement.

Consultants hold the equivalent of one half-day session a week and senior hospital dental officers the equivalent of 10 half-day sessions. My right hon. Friend is not aware of any dissatisfaction in the area or of any waiting list.

Is the hon. Lady aware that there is dissatisfaction in Coventry over the time that people have to wait for certain dental treatment? Is she further aware that constituents have written to me saying that they can obtain this treatment more quickly if they go to private dental practitioners? Would the hon. Lady be prepared to look into the matter?

The hospital management committees, on the advice of their medical advisory committees and of the hospital dental staff, have both recently stated that the present staffing arrangements for consultant dentistry are adequate and that they have no waiting list. However, if the hon. Lady has any particular cases in mind, I shall be only too happy to look into them.

asked the Minister of Health what consideration he has given, both in the interest of administrative efficiency and of encouraging borough council civic significance, to the possibility of transferring to borough councils with a local population of 40,000 or over certain public health services appropriate to such local administration; and what representations to this effect he has received.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the transfer of certain services provided under the National Health Service Act. This is being considered as part of the general question of the reorganisation of local government, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement. Representations on behalf of borough councils have been made by the Association of Municipal Corporations and by a number of individual councils.

Can the Minister say whether he is sympathetic to this proposal for the encouragement of local civic interest?

Certainly, but I cannot prejudge the reconsideration that is at present taking place. The hon. Member will know that the Guillebaud Report has certain recommendations on this matter. I have received so far 19 letters protesting about that paragraph of the Report and 11 letters in support of it.

Is my right hon. Friend able to assure the House that he and his right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government are working closely together in the present research into the reform of local government?

I can give that assurance; that pressing question is being studied jointly by Ministers.

asked the Minister of Health if he will arrange with the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance that a representative of the Ministry of Health, who is competent to deal with those problems of the war disabled which now come under his jurisdiction, attends the meetings of the Central Advisory Committee of the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance.

I will consider this suggestion with my right hon. Friend.

Is the Minister aware that our experience in the old Ministry of Pensions was that this Central Advisory Committee was of great assistance to the Minister, as it brought in the members of war pensions committees up and down the country? Is he aware that there is great dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the arrangements concerning tricycles and limbs at present, and will he give very sympathetic consideration to meeting the growing dissatisfaction by giving the pensioners some sense of real consultation?

I am considering this question at the present time, but if any representatives of war disabled men wish to come to see me about the position with regard to tricycles, I hope they will do so, for I shall be very ready to receive them at any time—in fact, I am receiving one deputation in a fortnight's time.

When considering this question of providing for those who are interested in disablement pensions some voice in this Central Advisory Committee, will the Minister discuss with the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the advisability of having representation of disabled persons on the local committees set up under the National Insurance Act?

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will put that question down to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance.

asked the Minister of Health what qualifications are necessary under his regulations for the post of duly authorised officer of a local health authority.

There are no regulations on this matter.

While expressing proper appreciation of the work done by these estimable officers, may I ask whether the Parliamentary Secretary is satisfied that, in modern conditions, these duly authorised officers are sufficiently qualified for the responsibility they undertake, which involves, of course, deprivation of personal liberty in many instances, when also they have to act independently of medical advice and even have power in some cases to overrule medical advice?

Local health authorities generally appoint suitable persons with previous knowledge of local health or welfare work, who are then given training and experience on the job. This particular problem will link up with the Working Party on Social Workers, which is considering the function and training of mental health workers along with other social workers.

Is it not absolutely essential to have some form of national training and qualification for these officers who do such an extremely important job in the social field?

The hon. Member will be aware that an investigation is going on into the whole sphere of mental welfare workers. I obviously could not anticipate its findings.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the practice of his Department in placing orders towards the end of the financial year with manufacturers of X-ray apparatus for completion prior to 31st March causes delays in the normal flow and prompt execution of export orders by private firms; and if he will ensure that such orders are in future placed by his Department earlier in the financial year.

The greater part of the apparatus of which delivery is required during the financial year is ordered before the year commences. Some late orders are necessary but they should not interfere with exports.

Is the Minister aware that the late orders not only cause considerable delay to firms engaged in the export trade but add considerably to the cost to the taxpayer? When will the right hon. Gentleman investigate this matter, so that late orders are not placed when there is a means of placing them earlier in the year? It takes place every year.

I have looked into this question, because the hon. Lady wrote to me in April. I am satisfied that the great bulk of the orders are placed well before the beginning of the financial year. There is no evidence of any harmful effect on exports. I am glad to say that the exports in the first quarter of this year were far higher, being more than 20 per cent. above the exports in the corresponding quarters of the two previous years.

asked the Minister of Health how many disabled persons have been supplied by his Department with invalid tricycles.

In England and Wales there are now 14,679 invalid tricycles on issue, of which 10,777 are power-propelled.

Is the hon. Lady aware that the figures represent a magnificent piece of social service for disabled persons, but that the arrangements for the care and maintenance of these machines is far from satisfactory? Will she look into the matter to see whether something can be done about servicing the machines for disabled persons?

We are constantly concerned about the problem of repairs. Having spent four hours with the Invalid Tricycle Association yesterday, I recall that the point was stressed then as it has been by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health the comparative costs of a mechanically-propelled petrol or electric invalid tricycle and a two-seater small car, supplied by his Department.

Two-seater cars are not supplied, but it is estimated that to substitute them for the latest petrol-driven invalid tricycles would cost at least an additional £40 or £50 for each vehicle.

Did the Minister learn when she met those estimable persons from the Invalid Tricycle Association yesterday that many disabled persons would be happier, and sometimes even safer, if they could have a companion with them on their machine? Will she look carefully into the representations made by the Invalid Tricycle Association and B.L.E.S.M.A. for the provision of two-seaters for disabled persons?

I understand that the associations are making representations and are meeting my right hon. Friend shortly, and that that is one of the points which will be under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health the present policy of the Government over the introduction of fluorine in water supplies.

The Government's policy continues to be that recommended by the United Kingdom Mission to the United States of America and announced in this House in December, 1953, namely, that studies should be made in some selected communities of the various aspects of the fluoridation of water supplies before a decision is made whether it should be generally adopted in this country.

Is there any doubt about the ultimate benefit or otherwise of this policy? When does the Minister expect that the results of this investigation will be known and will be made known to the public?

The local authorities which have already agreed to carry out study demonstrations are Anglesey, Andover and Watford in England and Wales, and Kilmarnock in Scotland. Fluoridation has started, except at Andover, where it is expected to begin very shortly. We shall have to wait until the study demonstrations have proceeded for a certain time before we can draw any conclusions.

asked the Minister of Health what claims for increased pay for doctors he has received from the British Medical Association and other bodies; and what action he is taking.

A memorandum outlining a claim for increased remuneration for general practitioners and hospital staff has been submitted to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself. I am not yet in a position to make any statement about it.

What does the memorandum consist of? What are the doctors asking for? Will the Minister, to avoid trouble over this serious claim, come to a decision without delay? Is the right hon. Gentleman to use the argument that the general practitioner, with an average income of £2,300 a year, is already getting more pay than the right hon. Gentleman's Parliamentary Secretary, who has the whole service to look after?

I think it would be ill-mannered and, indeed, unethical for me to answer that supplementary question before I had informed the medical profession about it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the need for an infant welfare centre in the Tividale area of Rowley Regis; and whether he will take steps to provide the necessary facilities.

Assessment of need is, in the first instance, a matter for the local health authority which, I understand, is considering it. Any proposal the authority may make will be carefully considered, but in present financial circumstances I cannot say when a loan sanction could be issued.

Has not this matter been under consideration for nearly two years? Would not the hon. Lady agree that, in view of the urgency of the requirement, something should be done to provide this important welfare service?

The authorities have not yet decided on a site.

I beg to give notice that, in view of the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Health if he will substitute a percentage charge to the patient for all dental treatment, other than the provision of dentures, in place of the present system whereby the first £1, or total charge if less than £1, is borne by the patient.

No, Sir.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that, in present circumstances and under the present system, in the absence of acute toothache, people are encouraged to delay their visit to the dentist for far too long until the maximum amount of repair work is required? Is not that defeating the object of the National Health Service, which is to ensure the greatest possible and the best dental health?

My hon. Friend's suggestion would also deter patients from trying to seek comprehensive treatment, because the percentage charge would be a very great deterrent.

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that this is the most stupid of all the existing stupid charges of the National Health Service? Would he not accept the recommendation of the Guillebaud Report, which at least proposed an advance in this matter, so that patients are not deterred from seeking dental treatment?

The Guillebaud Committee did not recommend a percentage charge.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that medical practitioners in the course of their work will be subject to payment when parking meters are installed; and what allowances will be made to National Health Service doctors to offset this charge.

The remuneration of doctors providing general medical services under the National Health Service already takes account of practice expenses generally, and I do not propose any special action in respect of this particular matter.

But practice expenses are not the sum total of the type of charge envisaged in this Question. Does not the Minister think it is rather unfair that men who have to visit frequently in specific areas should have to pay these charges?

Practice expenses do take account of certain parking expenses, but I understand that the regulations concerning parking meters have not yet been formulated. I believe a Question is to be asked on Wednesday of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation dealing with that matter. I do not think it arises at the moment.

Will the Minister make representations to the Minister of Transport and ask him for some flexibility in this matter so that general practitioners waiting on patients shall not have to pay parking meter charges?

I think it would be wiser if the hon. Member awaited the reply of my right hon. Friend next Wednesday.

Is not the Minister aware that his right hon. Friend has written to me stating that he cannot make any change and that these charges will be made?

I am not aware of the private communications between my right hon. Friend and the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health how many schemes for the building of accommodation for the elderly and infirm are under the terms of his Department's Circular 3/55 have been submitted by local authorities; how many have been approved in principle by his Department; and how many have been granted and refused loan sanction.

81, 64, 22 and 11.

Is it not absolutely clear that it is no use issuing a circular urging local authorities to go ahead with these schemes for the more infirm elderly if as many as eleven schemes are refused loan sanction? Is it not a case that very important schemes are being turned down by the Ministry at present?

Actually, of the eleven, five have been postponed because the applications were premature. I should think the Question shows what a great amount of work is going on. At present more than 60 buildings are being constructed or adapted for this purpose. That is work going on at present.

Is it not the case, however, that many schemes being put forward by local authorities and not reaching the full stage are being discouraged by the Ministry?

I have given the figures. So far eleven schemes have had loan sanction refused and, in the case of five, it was on the ground of premature application, as they were not ready to go forward.

Could we have the names of the local authorities attached to the list of figures in order that I may see whether the North-East Coast is getting its fair share?

If my hon. Friend puts down a Question, I will do my best to answer it.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of his decision to reverse his refusal to authorise the Northumberland County Council to proceed with the plan to acquire Shortridge Hall for housing old people, if he will now consider the wishes of the old people in Whitley Bay, who do not desire to be sent far from their surroundings and friends, and proceed to make use of the Prudhoe Memorial Home, which he has already acquired, which is deteriorating through lack of occupation, and which he refused to consider on the grounds that he was opposed to housing old people in large groups.

Any proposal which the county council may submit to me to provide further accommodation for old people in need of care in Whitley Bay, including any proposal to use the Prudhoe Memorial Home for this purpose, would be given my most careful consideration.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, which is a great advance on the use of the Prudhoe Memorial Home, may I ask him to say whether he has now departed from his very human declaration that old people should be housed in small groups as that is much more friendly and human than being housed in large groups? Why has he retreated from his original very human approach to this problem?

There has been no retreat. My policy and the policy of the Government is to encourage the provision of small homes with accommodation for not more than 50 or 60 residents. In the neighbourhood of the constituency of my hon. Friend, the county council is at present building a new home with 30 beds at Wallsend and intends later to build a new home of the same size at Blyth. Both places, I think, are near to the place of which my hon. Friend is speaking.

They are not in my constituency.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what research the Medical Research Council is conducting into the effects of atomic rain which has recently fallen after the atomic explosions in the Far East.

The Medical Research Council is conducting research on the biological effects of exposure to increased levels of radiation. This would cover any effects arising from radioactivity deposited in rain.

In view of the information that has now come forward of the very serious effects of strontium on bone structure, especially in children, and of the varied distribution which is now shown by its existence in animals, is it not extremely important that every possible method should be adopted for checking as soon as possible what are the possibilities in this matter?

The Medical Research Council is at present supporting a substantial and increasing programme of research on the biological effects of radiation from various sources, and will continue to do so.

In view of the very important Report of the Medical Research Council of the effect of nuclear radiation on man, is the Minister going to treat the matter seriously and make a statement before we adjourn for the Summer Recess?

I have said that these researches are going on, and I hope that the right hon. Lady will not exaggerate the Report of the Medical Research Council, which shows that the present and foreseeable hazards from the very small increase in world-wide atmospheric radioactivity caused by the test explosions is negligible and would not be expected to produce any detectable ill effects.

I apologise for intervening again, but the Minister has not read to the House that part of the Report to which my hon. Friend was referring—and I would like him to read it to the House—which says that, if bombs are dropped in the next 30 years at the same rate as they are now being dropped, the effects of strontium on the bone structure will be very serious. Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly read that part of the Report to the House?

I have given the summary of the recommendation. It is quite true that the Report mentioned the danger from radioactive strontium if the explosions continued during the lifetime of those living at the present time, and that is being studied with other matters.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman is aware that one of his own replies makes it clear that more recent information has shown that the distribution of strontium in the air is not even and that in some cases there is evidence of 10 times the normal absorption of this very strong poison.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what research body is specifically charged with the study of the genetic effects of nuclear and thermo-nuclear explosions; and what material was collected during the Allied occupation on the number of deformed and defective children born after the explosions at Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

Research on the genetic effects of exposure to radiation from all sources is being undertaken by the Medical Research Council and studies are also in progress in various university and other research departments. The United States Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission has, since 1947, been collecting information on the subsequent history of persons exposed to the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and a preliminary report has been published on the children born to such persons.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this information has not been made available to this House and that the information in the Report of the Medical Research Council, so far as Hiroshima and Nagasaki are concerned, dealt almost entirely with the question of leukæmia and not with the genetic effects?

What has been made available to the House is what is available in this country. The second report of Dr. Neel and Dr. Schull has not yet been published, but the Medical Research Council was given a preview of certain parts of it, which are summarised in paragraphs 167 to 170 of the Medical Research Council's Report.

asked the Minister of Health what statistical records or estimates he has of the total number of mental deficients who are now awaiting admission into suitable institutions; whether this shows an increase or decrease during the past 10 years; to what extent available beds have increased during that period; and what is the present prospect of reducing the average period of waiting before admission.

The number of mental defectives waiting for admission to hospital at the end of last year was 6,909. Comparable figures are not available for years before 1954 when the number was 7,033. In the past 10 years occupied beds have increased by about 8,000. The present building programme is designed to lead to reductions in the waiting time.

Can the hon. Lady say whether, in her estimation, there will be a considerable reduction in the number of mental defectives who ought to be having institutional treatment and are not getting it, and whether she feels that progress is being made in coping with this very difficult problem?

There are 8,000 more beds, and the waiting list has gone down. In the current programmes, there are 4,400 beds for mental defectives.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital capital development schemes of £30,000 and over he submitted to the Treasury for approval during the last 12 months' period for which figures are available; how many were approved; how many were modified or disapproved; and how many decisions are still pending.

Sixty-nine during the year ended 31st May, 1956. Sixty-four have been wholly approved and two in part, pending further inquiries; one has been modified; and two are outstanding.

Can the Minister give any indication of the average delay in the detailed consideration of development schemes, and does he not agree that this requirement is not only an irritation to hospital boards, but also a subtle manner of cutting down the capital expenditure on hospital services?

In regard to the first part of the question, I do not think I had better anticipate the Question which the hon. Gentleman has put down to one of my right hon. Friends next Thursday, which is almost exactly in those terms. In regard to the second part, I do not agree and, indeed, resent any suggestion that this is used to postpone schemes. Actually, I have given figures in my Answer, which themselves show that this has not been the effect at all.

asked the Minister of Health what hospital capital development schemes have been approved in Stoke-on-Trent in the past 12 months; what is the total sum involved; and how many have been rejected, modified or suspended.

During the year ended 31st March, 1956, four schemes totalling £13,479. My right hon. Friend has been unable to accept one scheme for central financing. No other schemes have been rejected, modified or suspended.

Does not the hon. Lady agree that the sum involved is not very high and that Stoke-on-Trent is a working-class city whose citizens are exposed specifically to all types of industrial disease? In view of the fact that the number of beds allotted to the city as a whole is smaller than the national average, will she see to it that any schemes put forward in future are passed?

The schemes which will provide additional beds are, in fact, the three schemes approved.

Is it not a fact that the announcement of the hon. Lady is directly opposed to the Guillebaud Report? Could she tell us why, in this particular area which needs special attention from her Department, these four schemes have been refused?

I am sorry, but the right hon. Lady has got it the wrong way round. It is four schemes which have been approved.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied with the machinery for reviewing the establishments of hospital consultants at each stage of the proceedings; what steps are taken to avoid unfairness and to pay regard to local conditions; and what action is taken by regional boards to find alternative employment for consultants declared redundant and to preserve their pension rights; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir. The hospital boards pay full regard to local conditions. In the rare case of redundancy a moral obligation rests on them to give the consultant the greatest possible assistance in finding another post. A consultant who considers that his appointment is being terminated unfairly has a right to have the board's decision reviewed by me.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that statement, may I ask him if he accepts the findings of the Bradbeer Committee?

Certainly I have looked at the findings of the Bradbeer Committee, but I do not think I can give one answer fully covering that point. I think that this is one of the questions which the Committee did, in fact, examine.

asked the Minister of Health on what principles appointments are made to regional hospital boards and to group hospital management committees.

My right hon. Friend's aim is to appoint as members of regional hospital boards those who can, in a personal capacity, make an effective contribution to the planning and administration of the hospital and specialist services. Boards have been asked to follow the same principle in their appointments to hospital management committees.

Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that special consideration will be given to the desirability of seeing that local authorities are adequately represented on these boards?

I do not think we can depart from the principle of choosing the people whom we think can give the best service on these boards and committees. To allow direct representation from the local authorities would create considerable difficulties, because some areas have many small authorities in them and others possibly only one.

Will the hon. Lady keep in mind the recommendations of the Guillebaud Report, which were to the effect that there should be no overlapping of specialist representation on the regional boards or hospital management committees?

We have that in mind.

asked the Minister of Health what is the limit to the number of members who may serve on the North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board; how many members are at present serving on that board; which of the serving members was nominated by the Ilford Borough Council; and how many nominees of the Ilford Borough Council have been appointed since the foundation of the board.

The maximum number is 22 (including the chairman), and 22 are serving at present. No nominee of the Ilford Borough Council has been appointed since the formation of the board.

Will my hon. Friend take note of the fact that there is very great dissatisfaction in the Borough of Ilford at the consistent and persistent disregard of the borough council's recommendations; and at the neglect which has been shown to provide that this most important borough should be adequately represented?

The regional hospital board, under the terms of the Act, is required to consult local health authorities, but, as my hon. Friend knows, the borough of Ilford does not come into that category.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons nominated by the Ilford Borough Council have been appointed to the Ilford and Barking Group Hospital Management Committee in the years 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1956, respectively.

One in 1948 and one in 1952.

Will my hon. Friend take note of the fact that the dissatisfaction which I expressed in my supplementary question on the previous Question applies with equal force to this Question?

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the independent medical examination of Mrs. Harriet Thornton who has been detained in a mental home for over three years.

It is for the relative who applied for an independent medical examination to arrange with the selected doctors for this examination.

When the examination has taken place, will the Minister do his best to expedite a decision, which I am certain will set Mrs. Thornton free? Will he bear in mind that, when this has been achieved, I shall be asking for a thorough investigation as to how she got into a mental home in the first place, and what justification there is for depriving her of her liberty for over three years?

This is a matter for the Board of Control and not for me. When the report on the examination is received, it has to be sent to the Board of Control consideration. It is within the power of the board to order the patient to be discharged at the expiration of ten days.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement giving the reasons why Mr. Alan W. Cripps, 25, Clive Avenue, Crayford, in writing to the Board of Control on 24th April, 1956, in respect of the case of his niece, Miss Harriet Thornton, did not receive a reply until 13th June, 1956, details of which have been given to him by the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford.

I have written to the hon. Member on 4th July, and again today, explaining the reasons for this regrettable delay.

While thanking the Minister for the splendid way in which he dealt with this case when it was brought to his attention, may I ask whether he is aware that this is not an isolated case of delay and that there is deep concern that the Board of Control is not doing the job for which it was set up, namely, to look after the interests of the individual, because more and more it seems to be moving as a machine? Not only does it lock people up, but it keeps them locked up. Will the Minister look at this matter to se whether the process cannot be humanised?

I will certainly have a look at it. This delay was most unfortunate. It was an instance where the machine broke down. Steps have been taken to guard against a recurrence of such a breakdown.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give consideration to the need for air conditioning of individual wards in general and other hospitals, where it is proposed to treat bronchitis and its complications during periods of fog; and whether he will give an estimate of the cost of air conditioning for one normal sized ward.

My right hon. Friend is ready to consider any such proposal submitted by a hospital board, but it would, of course, have to take its place among the many other urgent proposals in hospital capital programmes. The cost of installation would vary with a number of factors, but might be of the order of £2,000 with running costs of 5s. an hour.

Whilst thanking the hon. Lady for the information, may I ask her to bear in mind that, at the cost of £2,000, there would be the most incredible benefit to those who suffer great distress from acute forms of bronchitis at times of fog in the winter? Will she give this question as high priority as possible?

As the hon. Member knows, we are advised by the Standing Medical Advisory Committee on this matter. We have not had any recommendations on that basis.

asked the Minister of Health how many people were detained under the Mental Deficiency Acts on 31st December, 1955, in whose cases the circumstances rendering them subject to be dealt with were that they were found neglected; and how many of these cases have been reviewed by the Board of Control since the judgment in the case of Regina v. Board of Control, ex-parte Ruthy.

The information is not available in the form requested. In response to inquiries made in February and March of this year by the Board of Control, 5,732 mentally defective patients were reported as having been found neglected by a judicial authority and dealt with under the Mental Deficiency Acts whilst in the care of public or charitable bodies. About 2,000 cases have been reviewed to date.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this is a serious position in which it appears that detention has in fact been illegal? If on review these cases are to be released, is any provision to be made of alternative accommodation for them?

Whether they were properly found neglected is a legal matter in which I cannot interfere. They have been brought to me or to my predecessors on justices' orders as found neglected, and it is my duty to take care of them. I am making a review of the cases, especially those out on licence. Of the 536 licensed cases, 330 have been discharged to date.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is urgently necessary, in view of the comments of the Lord Chief Justice on the comparable case, that they should be as quickly reviewed as possible and that alternative accommodation should be provided for these cases?

I think the hon. Member is confusing two issues. I cannot look into the legal question. What I think is important is that the Board of Control should review all these cases as quickly as possible, particularly those on licence In fact, it has already reviewed 2,000 cases and I have given the results of the review.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the confusion in the public mind created by the fact that the Board of Control, previously located independently, has now an identical address with the Ministry of Health; and if he will arrange for adequate recognition of the separate existence of the board as an independent body.

I think that the separate existence of the board as an independent body is widely recognised. It is convenient for administration that the Ministry and the board should be in the same building.

May I, none the less, ask my right hon. Friend if he can make it quite clear that the functions of the Board of Control are to protect the liberty of the subject and—at the risk of repeating what the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) has already said this afternoon—whether he is aware that, admirably intentioned though the board may be, it has in fact given the impression in recent times that it is both lethargic and inefficient in dealing with matters related to the individual and in reply to individual communications addressed to it?

I can assure my hon. Friend that proximity to me does not induce lethargy or inefficiency.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the telephone number of the Board of Control is not in the London Telephone Directory; and if he will make arrangements for the appropriate insertion to be made.

Yes, Sir.

May I thank my hon. Friend for removing at least one obstacle to the normal access to the Board of Control?