asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet completed his consultations on the Cranbrook Committee's recommendations; which of its recommendations he will implement; and to what extent this will improve maternity services in Swindon.

As I said in the recent debate on the National Health Service, memoranda prepared in consultation with the appropriate organisations will shortly go out commending to hospital and local health authorities, executive councils and general practitioners many of the recommendations in this Report. I will send the hon. Member copies. It will be for the authorities and practitioners concerned to consider the maternity services at Swindon in the light of these memoranda.

Has the Minister been in touch with the regional hospital board about conditions in Swindon, which are particularly inadequate at the present time? Has he any real hopes that there will be an improvement during the course of the next few months?

As the hon. Gentleman will know, my medical and nursing team visited Swindon in January. There are difficulties there, as in other parts of the country, but I am advised that there is no very serious shortage of midwives there. I certainly hope that Swindon will participate in the advantages which will accrue from the recommendations in the circulars.

In view of the fact that the Cranbrook Report was published last February, can the Minister say when he will make his recommendations, having regard to the importance of the obstetric list and the need to make more hospital beds available?

There are two matters here, as the right hon. Lady knows. There are the circulars containing the recommendations which I am now commending to the authorities concerned, and these are coming out very soon indeed. The question of the obstetric list is still under discussion with the professional organisations concerned.

asked the Minister of Health how many homes for old and disabled persons existed at the end of 1951 and at the end of June, 1959.

One thousand, six hundred and forty-five and about 3,160, respectively.

Can my right hon. and learned Friend give an assurance that the Government will carry this good work on in the 'sixties?

Yes, I am happy to give my hon. and gallant Friend that assurance.

Will the Minister tell his hon. and gallant Friend also the number of old people there are now compared with 1951, and, perhaps, the number of old people who are dying now as compared with 1951—all interesting information?

I am happy to say that it is, of course, a fact that in the last eight years the expectation of life of people in this country has increased. People are living longer, they are living in better conditions, and more have been housed in these homes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has taken note of the comments of paragraph 226 of the Report of the Hinchliffe Committee in which a distinction is made between pharmaceutical firms which undertake genuine research and those which make large profits on new preparations, which are not therapeutically superior to those already in existence, and devote no part of their profits to significant research; and what steps he is taking to make pricing arrangements with the pharmaceutical industry so that the fullest encouragement is given to firms which embark on genuine research expenditure

Yes, Sir. As my hon. Friend will know, the Committee recognised that the present price agreement, which is in operation for a trial period, has features which allow for the need to encourage research. This agreement is at present under review, and in considering the arrangements for the future I shall certainly keep in mind the importance of encouraging genuine research.

I thank my right hon. and learned Friend for that reply. Will he press the matter vigorously, because the same paragraph gives some rather striking figures to the effect that, whereas £7 million annually is spent on research in Switzerland and £43 million is spent in the United States, only £4 million is spent in this country. Does he agree that there is a need for a fundamental change in this country to make up this kind of difference in the figures?

We have, of course, to have regard to the findings of the Report as a whole. The possibility will certainly be explored in the review now in progress of relating permissible prices more directly in some way to a firm's research effort in any future scheme. This is a complex matter involving many considerations.

In giving that answer to a Question which refers to "genuine research", has the Minister had in mind fundamental basic research or development research, which is a very different matter? What weight does he give to the fact that certain companies market pharmaceutical supplies at very high prices in this country when the basic research has been done abroad?

The basic research of, for example, subsidiaries of United States companies is very often, of course, carried out in the United States. That is one of the complicating factors. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the present agreement does not directly relate prices to research. The possibility of relating them more directly is one of the things being taken into account in our present review.

asked the Minister of Health what advice he gives to local authorities in areas in which an unusually large outbreak of poliomyelitis occurs.

Local authorities are advised by their own medical officers of health to whom a medical memorandum was issued in July, 1954, recommending a code of practice on the occurrence of an outbreak of poliomyelitis. My medical officers are always available for consultation and advice.

I am sure the Minister knows that there has been a serious outbreak of poliomyelitis in Islington. Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that statistics show that the risk is very much less in the case of children who have been immunised, even if they have had only two injections, compared with those who have not been immunised? In view of this, will the Minister do what he can to recommend the greatest possible use of immunisation among children?

I have noted with regret these cases in Islington. In the early stages of the outbreak, there was a very good response to the vaccination programme in Islington, but I am sorry to say that it has shown signs of falling off. I hope that what the hon. Gentleman has said will encourage the response to pick up again.

As immunisation is at the moment limited to certain age groups and expectant mothers, are we to take it from what the Minister has said that, in the event of an outbreak, all contacts, irrespective of age, can be immunised?

I am advised about those who should be vaccinated by the Committee presided over by Lord Cohen of Birkenhead, and I follow its recommendations. The Committee has recommended the priority groups at present eligible for vaccination.

Has my right hon. and learned Friend any figures to show the improvement with regard to poliomyelitis outbreaks since the very large scale inoculations and vaccinations started?

I am happy to say that the general incidence this year is

asked the Minister of Health how many mental defectives in Essex under and over the age of 16 years, respectively, are now registered as being in need of residential care; whether these figures represent an increase or decrease compared with those for previous years; and what steps are being taken to provide the necessary accommodation.

At the end of 1958, 136 mental defectives under sixteen and 158 aged sixteen or over were reported by the Essex County Council as in need of hospital care. These figures represent a decrease compared with previous years for those under sixteen but an increase for those of sixteen or over. The regional hospital board has

asked the Minister of Health the estimated percentage of those who died through respiratory diseases throughout the country and for Stoke-on-Trent, Lancashire and Sussex, and the totals, respectively, for the years 1938 and 1958.

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, set these out in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

While it is, of course, good news that the number of child mental defectives has decreased, the overall figure has. I understand, increased and there are still children in the county, in my constituency in particular, for whom accommodation is unable to be found. Will my hon. Friend ensure that effort is made to speed up the action which the county authority apparently contemplates taking?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a further statement regarding the future of dental treatment and ophthalmic charges.

No, Sir, but I shall, of course, keep under consideration all relevant circumstances, both economic and social, relating to the financing of the Health Service.

Does the Minister not remember that it was at the beginning of 1956 that the Guillebaud Committee recommended that the dental treatment charges should be the first consideration for removal and that the ophthalmic charges should come second? After all this passage of years, is he not prepared to say that at least some steps have been taken to get rid of the charges?

As the hon. Member knows, the dental treatment and the glasses charges had a social purpose as well as a financial purpose. Therefore, it is necessary to consider these matters in the context of all these factors.

In considering relieving the dental charges, will my right hon. and learned Friend ensure that at the same time the dentists are not taken from the school dental service, as happened before?

As my right hon. Friend knows, one of the relevant social purposes in this context was the shortage of dentists for the school service at the material time.

Does the Minister's reply mean that he does not accept the Guillebaud Committee's recommendation about the withdrawal of the dental charges?

The hon. Member has had three years or so to put Questions on the Order Paper relating to the Government's attitude to the Report of the Guillebaud Committee. If he cares to put a Question down, I shall be happy to answer it.

asked the Minister of Health what provision is being made to enable the Occupational Health Service at Slough to maintain and extend its work.

The Slough Industrial Health Service is a voluntary organisation which is not in the National Health Service, and I have no information about its proposals for future maintenance and extension.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary discuss this matter with his colleagues in the Ministry of Labour and National Service who have recently visited this hospital? Is it not the case that this service is doing unique work in research on the effects of noise and of heat and dust, and is doing it for industry throughout the country in connection with leading hospitals? Should there not be some Government assistance for this valuable effort?

I have no precise information about any research activities of the Slough Industrial Health Service in this context. As the hon. Member indicated, this is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service. I will certainly keep in touch with him on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether, in view of the dangerous effects of taking the drug preludine, he will include this drug upon the schedule of drugs which may be sold only on medical prescription;

asked the Minister of Health (1) what representations he has received, and from whom, regarding the unrestricted sale by chemists of the drug preludine without the need for medical prescription; and if he will make a statement;

I have received representations from an hon. Member and one other person about the use of this drug. It is among those which are being considered by the Interdepartmental Committee on Drugs of Addiction in relation to its habit-forming characteristics.

Is the Minister aware that this drug, which is being sold as slimming tablets in chemists' shops throughout the country, has already precipitated at least one murder and many acts of violence, all of which are known to the police and to the prison medical authorities? Does he not think that he should take immediate action, or is he waiting for another murder to be committed before he takes the action required?

There is nothing about murder in any of these four Questions, and I am not aware of the facts adduced by the hon. Member in that regard. In general, however, apart from the Committee to which I have referred, I am considering whether there is need for some further measure of control of drugs which do not come within the scope of the Dangerous Drugs Act, nor are poisons, but the indiscriminate use of which may entail risk.

As I believe this drug was produced by a non-British firm, can the Minister say whether the clinical trials were conducted in this country?

Not without notice, but I will make inquiry for the right hon. Lady.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will carry out a review of domiciliary health and welfare services for the elderly that have been developed since the publication of the Boucher Report.

I keep in close touch with developments in this service through my medical staff and regional officers and I do not consider that a further special review is needed at this time.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman not feel that, in view of the great value of this Report and the great importance of the services whose development it recommended, it is desirable to have a further check-up to see exactly what has been done and to publish the information for the help of authorities generally?

I am satisfied that the local authorities are continuing to develop the domiciliary health and welfare services on the lines which I have commended to them following the survey in question. There is, I am glad to say, a lot of evidence of the progress which has been made following that action.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authority schemes for chiropody services that include provision for domiciliary treatment have been submitted to him for approval to date.

All the eight schemes which have so far been formally submitted for my approval include provision for domiciliary treatment.

Will the Minister do something to give publicity to these schemes so that there can be more general information for the sake again of other authorities who are now considering the matter and how best it can be carried out?

I think there is a general understanding of these matters, but I will certainly give consideration to the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated shortage of dentists in the County of Essex and, in particular, in the Borough of Leyton.

I regret that no such estimate is available.

Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to get the information, because it is of some public importance and significance?

I am bound to say that I understand that the Essex Executive Council has received very few complaints indeed of the effect of any shortage of dentists in Essex or in Leyton, in particular.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to public anxiety arising from recent scientific pronouncements on the amount of strontium in wholemeal bread; and if he will make a statement to remove public misconceptions as to the continuing value of this bread.

There is no ground for anxiety. The Report on Strontium 90 in the Human Diet in 1958 by the Agricultural Research Council mentions that the effect of substituting wholemeal bread for white bread in an otherwise average diet would be to raise the ratio of Strontium 90 to calcium in the total diet approximately from 6 to 9 strontium units. I am advised that this higher figure would be a long way from giving grounds for concern about human health.

May I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether he feels that the statement which has appeared in the Press has given rise to some misconception, and what steps he has taken to remove this very absurd misconception of harm which may be done to those who consume this kind of bread?

I think that the Question which the hon. Gentleman has asked and the Answer which I have given should go a long way towards correcting any misapprehension which may exist.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to stop or discourage the production of drugs in gay and attractive bottles and capsules likely to make children think they are sweets.

I do not think this would be either practicable or effective. The right solution is for all drugs to be kept out of the reach of children.

Is the Minister aware that several doctors have pointed out to me that they do receive drugs which are clearly got up in such a way that children could mistake them for sweets and that that may have serious results? Can he not give some publicity to this and to those who produce drugs in this form?

I think that what the hon. Gentleman has said today will go some way towards meeting the publicity point, but I do not know of any drug bottles which are made to look particularly attractive.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will draw the attention of regional hospital boards and hospital management committees to the fact that Sections 59 and 60 of the National Health Service Act permit funds received by them by way of donations or bequests to be used for the provision of additional facilities or accommodation; and if he will take appropriate steps to encourage them in the formation of voluntary committees for the purpose of stimulating the collection of funds on a local basis for such purposes.

I am sure that all boards and committees are well aware of their powers in relation to non-Exchequer funds and of the value of encouraging local voluntary help like that given by Leagues of Friends.

Although the boards themselves may be aware of it, does my right hon. and learned Friend realise that there is a great deal of misconception among the public generally—in which, I have to admit, I myself shared—in regard to the potential use of funds voluntarily donated to hospitals? Will he take prompt measures to dispel any such misconceptions so that funds from voluntary subscriptions can be tapped in the way they were tapped in the past, before the Health Service came in?

The purposes for which non-Exchequer funds held by hospital authorities can be used are defined in the National Health Service Act. In addition, there have been several memoranda of guidance which have made it clear that non-Exchequer funds as well as Exchequer funds may be used for capital works.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will state the dates upon which the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South was promised that consideration was being given to the site upon which the new out-patients department hospital at Stoke would be built; who have been consulted about the site; on what dates the consultations took place; and why the promise made to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South about the site has not been implemented;

asked the Minister of Health (1) what committees or organisations are now being consulted on the plans for the proposed out-patients department at Stoke-on-Trent;

This project is one of the major schemes which I announced on 6th December, 1957, and I then invited the regional hospital board to proceed with planning it. This has proved a complicated matter, owing to the need to avoid unnecessary and expensive duplication of services, and is not yet complete; but I can assure the hon. Members that it will proceed as quickly as possible.

That reply seems to absolve the Minister from personal responsibility. Can he say whether others have been responsible for the delay? Is he aware that the miners, who work the hardest and suffer most from casualties, are very disappointed at the delay, and will he now treat the matter as one of supreme urgency in this great industrial area?

I quite appreciate what the hon. Gentleman says about the urgency, about the mining population, and also about the characteristics of the area in question. The problem here has been to find a site which is conveniently situated but to avoid the expensive duplication of services, such as laboratories, X-ray facilities, and so on. For that reason, the choice of site has been deferred until the schedules of accommodation are complete. I expect that a final decision will be reached very soon indeed.

Is the Minister aware that this matter has been going back and forth between his Ministry, the regional hospital board and other organisations for quite a long time and that, when the Members for Stoke-on-Trent met the previous Parliamentary Secretary in, I think, July, 1957, we were then told that it was hoped that plans would be sanctioned that year and working drawings would be started that year? Further, does the Minister realise that the local authority and the local executive council are both very concerned that there is no apparent liaison between the various bodies, and that there seems to be great reluctance on the part of the regional hospital board to have any liaison on a very important project such as this, which will affect people there at present and in the future?

I am sorry that it has not proved possible to complete the actual plans and working drawings as quickly as had been hoped. This is a complicated matter, for the reason, among others, which I gave. We appreciate the desirability of getting on as quickly as those complications will allow. Machinery has been set up for a joint liaison committee. The committee has not actually met, but it will, no doubt, meet when the regional hospital board thinks that the time is ripe for useful discussions.

In view of the fact that the House is to rise for the Recess at the end of next week and hon. Members have heard my hon. Friends raise this matter over the years, can the Minister say, at this stage, where the delay arises? If he ventilates the matter now, it may be that he will be able to expedite matters.

Within the necessary limitations of Question Time, I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's first supplementary question the basic difficulty which caused delay. I am fully seized of all the considerations in this matter, and I can assure the hon. Members for Stoke-on-Trent that their case will in no way be prejudiced when we rise for the Recess.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he will take to provide facilities for casualties and out-patients in northern Swindon and the Penhill and Rodbourne areas after the opening of the new Princess Margaret Hospital at the southern end of the town.

The Oxford Regional Hospital Board is satisfied that the facilities for casualties and outpatients which will be provided by the Princess Margaret Hospital will be adequate to meet the needs of the whole town, and my right hon. and learned Friend sees no reason to disagree with its view.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his Answer will be thought highly unsatisfactory in Swindon, because very large distances are involved? As I think he knows from the correspondence, many people are very apprehensive about what will happen when the existing casualty facilities in the town close down. Very many people are extremely worried. Will the hon. Gentleman look at the matter again?

If the hon. Member is mainly worried about transport arrangements to the new hospital involving greater journeys compared with the existing arrangements, I can tell him that the Swindon and District Hospital Management Committee has given consideration to the question and has arranged that, when the first stage of the Princess Margaret Hospital is opened, a special additional half-hourly bus service will be provided from Swindon Town Hall to the hospital.

asked the Minister of Health whether the sketch plans of the proposed new area hospital for Cornwall have yet been finally approved.

The sketch plans submitted by the South Western Regional Hospital Board for the first stage of the new hospital have now been approved subject to further consideration of the plans for housing resident staff.

While thanking the Minister for that Answer, for which we have been waiting many years, may I ask how long he thinks it will be before the working plans and bills of quantity are finalised? Will he take into account the statement reported this morning to have been made at the B.M.A. Conference at Edinburgh which states:

"We are falling behind rapidly in the standards of hospital provision now available in Western Europe"?

I cannot tell the hon. Gentleman precisely when building work will start, but I am sure that the preparation of working drawings and bills of quantity, which shows a considerable advance on previous progress, will be welcome to him. A considerable task is entailed and there are details of engineering services to be settled, but we are a stage further on and we shall continue to press forward.

asked the Minister of Health what hospital accommodation is available for mentally defective children in County Durham; what is the waiting list for admission; and what is being done to improve the position.

There are now 400 mentally defective children in hospital in County Durham and 85 on the county council's waiting list. In addition to the expansion of hospital accommodation referred to in my reply to the hon. Member's Question on 10th November, 1958, further work has been authorised at Prudhoe hospital at an estimated cost of nearly £500,000.

In spite of these very welcome improvements, is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is still a grave shortage of accommodation for these people? Will he pay particular attention to the case which I sent to the Minister a few days ago concerning a boy in a children's home who is a menace to the health of the other people there?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the shortage of places in farm hostels for mental patients for whom this kind of accommodation is considered suitable; and what steps he proposes to remedy the position.

I am not aware of any general shortage. Hospitals authorities appreciate the value of providing this type of accommodation for selected patients, and as part of the development of the community mental health services, there will be an increasing number of local health authority hostels for the mentally disordered.

Is the Minister aware that for over eighteen months I have been in correspondence with the Board of Control about a constituent of mine, Mr. Oxley, who is a patient at Rampton Hospital? It is agreed that this type of accommodation is very suitable for this patient, but no place has been found for him because it is stated that there is a shortage of accommodation. In view of the first part of the Minister's Answer, that he is not aware of any general shortage, will he look into this case if I send him particulars?

I am familiar with the case of Mr. Oxley, to which the hon. Gentleman has drawn attention. It is a fact that the two hostels in which it was sought to get him accommodation were not in a position to receive him. The alternative proposition at present under consideration is that he should go to South Ockenden Hospital, where daily farm work could be provided for him if he is suitable for it.

asked the Minister of Health in what circumstances the widow of a patient who died in Chester Royal Infirmary, of whom particulars have been sent to him, was permitted to see her husband's body following a postmortem examination before it had been properly laid out.

I am making full inquiries and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

While thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for making inquiries, may I ask him whether he would not agree that the shock and distress inflicted on any woman seeing her husband's body in such circumstances is acute? Will he, therefore, take steps to ensure that authorities in charge of mortuaries tighten up their administration so that incidents of this kind do not occur?

I quite appreciate the hon. Lady's anxiety in this matter, but I think that I must await the reply from the hospital authority concerned, when I will certainly look into the whole matter, with particular reference to the point of view which she has expressed.

asked the Minister of Health what directions, advice or guidance are issued to hospitals under his control in the matter of the accommodation of children in adults' wards; and whether he is satisfied about the position at the Victoria Hospital, Lichfield, Staffordshire.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a memorandum my right hon. and learned Friend addressed to all hospital authorities in February last. With regard to the second part of the Question, I cannot add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 6th July last.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this matter is causing anxiety locally? Indeed, the Mayor of Lichfield has been considering opening a public subscription fund to try to obtain a ward for these children. There are many undesirable factors and incidents in an adults' ward to which no small child should be subjected. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that no blame attaches to the local hospital management committee, which, in this case, as in many others, is subject to the local regional board? Cannot the regional board do something in the matter?

As I told the hon. Member in reply to his earlier Question, a review of facilities for children in the region is now in progress and the position of the hospital will be considered in the light of it.

asked the Minister of Health how many in-patients passed through the hospitals, and how large was the waiting list, in 1951 and 1958, respectively.

The number of in-patients treated in England and Wales in 1951 was 3,260,000 and in 1958, 3,890,000. The waiting lists at the end of the year were 500,000 and 443,000, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health how much money was made available for building hospitals in 1951, and how much in 1958.

In England and Wales, £8½ million was spent on hospital building in 1950–51 and about £20 million in 1958–59.

Does my right hon. and learned Friend not agree that the improvement shown in the Answers to both these Questions is a further striking mark of the success and efficiency of Tory Government?

Yes, I agree with my hon. and gallant Friend. He has done a public service by drawing attention to the gratifying progress which we are making and which we certainly hope to continue to make.

To have the proper picture, can the Minister tell us how much was spent on housing on bombed sites in 1951?

How many building trade workers are unemployed now?

I cannot tell the right hon. Lady without notice, especially as it is a matter for another Minister.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of nurses, student nurses and part-time nurses in the London teaching hospitals, the average number of patients and the total number of beds available.

As the Answer involves a number of figures, I will with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the United Liverpool Hospitals are still awaiting his sanction to proceed with a scheme to provide steam and hot water services to three hospitals in the centre of Liverpool, that correspondence, etc., has been, going on since 1950, and that the matter is now very urgent; and when the board may expect a definite decision on this matter.

My right hon. and learned Friend has written to the board of governors authorising their acceptance of a tender for the supply of boilers and the preparation of working drawings and bills of quantities for the remaining works.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Board is very pleased that there has been a hurry-up since this Question was put on the Order Paper? Is he aware that these hospitals are in the central area of the city and that had it not been that they were under the control of the Government there would have been action taken by the Medical Officer of Health of Liverpool because of the Clean Air Act and the amount of smoke that has been coming from these chimneys for such a long time? Will the Parliamentary Secretary look at this case personally to see whether it is possible to prevent this sort of delay taking place in very important schemes in the City of Liverpool?

I appreciate what the hon. Lady has said. Of course, this is a very large and complex scheme involving the expenditure of £179,000. I would not want the House to think nothing has been done at all. In fact, work to the value of more than £40,000 has already been carried out, and I will endeavour to see that the process is kept up and speeded up.

asked the Minister of Health when the Eastern Group Liverpool Hospital Management Committee can expect to receive sanction to proceed with the modernisation of tuberculosis and venereal disease wards at Newsham General Hospital which was first requested in January, 1958.

My right hon. and learned Friend received working drawings and bills of quantities from the regional hospital board on 7th July last. These are being examined urgently and authority to proceed will be given as soon as possible.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this matter has been going on for two years, that the venereal disease and tuberculosis wards in this old institution are really shocking and not fit for patients, and that this opinion is agreed by everybody responsible, both the committee and the board? Will he, therefore, see that there is a move on in dealing with this matter?

I will do my best, but I do not think there has been any material delay in considering the scheme either at the regional hospital board level or in my Ministry. The original estimate was for £24,000. It is now estimated to cost £85,300. Naturally, in view of that increase, we have got to look at all the details very carefully indeed.