asked the Minister without Portfolio if he will issue a report on the activities of his Department since the date of his appointment.

No, Sir.

Is not that reply just as mysterious as the duties which the Minister is supposed to be carrying out in co-ordinating Government information services? Why is he not giving some information service to the House? Has he noticed since he has taken over this job that this country presents a woefully sick image? Despite the difficulties created for him by his Ministerial colleagues, what is the right hon. Gentleman doing to provide us with a newer, better and happier look?

The hon. Gentleman should bear in mind that my function is to co-ordinate the information services at home. A principal forum for expositions of Government policy must always be the House. I give advice and assistance where I can to the information services, but it is not part of my job to usurp the functions of Departmental Ministers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to many workers re- siding in Tamworth who work in the Birmingham area when hospital cases affecting their families are transferred to Burton-on-Trent; and what steps, pending the availability of more beds at the Good Hope Hospital, he proposes taking.

I cannot identify the circumstances which the hon. Member has in mind.

That is the sort of reply I feared. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it is a wholly unimaginative policy which forces workers who work in Birmingham but reside in Tamworth to have their family cases treated at Burton, bearing in mind the very unsatisfactory local transport arrangements? If he does not know anything about it, will he please look into it?

Now the hon. Member has made the point clear. Apart from maternity cases, a patient from Tamworth who has a special link with Birmingham can generally be accommodated in a Birmingham hospital if he makes known his request.

asked the Minister of Health what are the total interest charges which have so far been incurred in connection with the Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield; and what is the capital cost so far of this hospital.

None, Sir; about £406,000.

asked the Minister of Health what regulations exist, when patients have to attend hospital for treatment, for paying them a mileage allowance for the use of their own cars, instead of sending an ambulance, where there is no public transport available, as is often the case in rural areas.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make additional funds available to regional hospital boards to cover the extra day's running in leap year, 1964.

Yes, Sir.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary take it from me that this will be very welcome? Hospital management committees are very short of money at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will retain emergency and out-patient facilities in local hospitals otherwise affected by the Hospital Plan for England and Wales;

Yes, Sir, in a large number of cases.

May I thank my right hon. Friend for that encouraging reply? Is he aware of the great difficulty that many people from the rural districts will have of getting into these larger hospitals when they are built, and will he bear that in mind when formulating his Hospital Plan?

Yes, Sir. Every single instance has to be looked at in the light of local circumstances and of experience as the new facilities are provided.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether in cases like the hospital in the borough of Congleton, built in the last 25 years, which is a perfectly good hospital, he will make an exception?

I do not think there is any question of making an exception but of ensuring that new and better facilities that are acceptable to those concerned are in existence before any of the older facilities are discontinued.

asked the Minister of Health how many pre-nursing students who attained the age of 17 years during the past year have taken up employment as student nurses.

I regret the information is not available.

In that case, is not the hon. Member aware—or ought not he to be aware—that the overwhelming proportion of the pre-student nurses, or hospital cadets as they are sometimes called, go on into the nursing career as soon as their age enables them to do so? In view of that fact, is it not time that they were treated as part of the nursing service and therefore received the same pay increases as nurses automatically at the time when the nurses receive them?

Those below the minimum age for entering nurse training—and the minimum age is 18 and not 17—may prepare themselves in two ways. They may either remain at school or colleges of further education, or enter hospital employment as nursing cadets. There are ample opportunities for nursing cadets to enter nurse training. No fewer than 20,000 new student nurses and 4,000 pupil nurses enter each year. The information which the hon. Lady has sought is not available, but it is known that two-thirds of those entering nursing cadet schemes from 1954 to 1960 later took up nurse training.

Has not the hon. Member obliged me by proving my point? Will he therefore answer the second half of my supplementary question and agree that these hospital cadets should be treated exactly as nurses are treated in the matter of pay?

That is an entirely separate question, which I understand was answered last week.

asked the Minister of Health if a limb fitting centre will be included in the reconstructed New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton.

This is still under consideration.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that if this centre is closed the poor people who use it—mostly cripples—will have to travel a journey of one hour each way to the otherwise nearest centre? Will he consult his right hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) who must understand this problem, and see that representations are made to the effect that the present centre is retained in the new hospital?

It will be some time before a decision on this matter needs to be reached, but obviously I shall have the same considerations in mind as my honourable fellow burgess.

asked the Minister of Health on what date he is receiving a deputation from the Royal College of Nursing on nurse recruitment.

This Thursday.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he will announce in full his answer to the case presented by the Royal College of Nursing?

Not necessarily, but there may well be a statement after we have met—I do not know.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in Stoke-on-Trent the ten-year building programme has had a detrimental effect on the financial ability to maintain older buildings which are not being replaced in this programme; and whether he will make specific inquiries and give what additional help is needed.

No, Sir. The maintenance programme has not been restricted.

As it might be thought that I framed my Question perhaps rather clumsily, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that the impression which I have is that this is a national problem—namely, that the amount of finance available to the regional boards is now such that their allocations, in turn, to hospital management committees are not sufficient to allow them to see that any replacement on maintenance is kept up to the standards which they prefer?

Throughout the country the total value of the revenue allocation has been rising, but it is for the regional boards, in the first instance, and also for the hospital management committees, to decide how they shall allot it as between maintenance and other forms of revenue expenditure.

Is not the Minister aware that one of the effects of the Hospital Plan, at least in some regions, is that there are practically no minor capital moneys available to the type of hospital referred to in the Question if they do not figure in the plan? Is he further aware that one regional board—I hasten to add not that with which I am associated—has only £7,000 a year available for capital work on those hospitals which do not appear in the plan?

This Question does not relate to capital expenditure, which, as the hon. Member knows, includes minor works. It refers to revenue expenditure. There is a good deal of misunderstanding about the status of minor works under the Hospital Plan, and I should be glad to clear that up if the hon. Member will either communicate with me or put down a Question.

Does the Minister mean that putting in a new sluice room, for example, or modernising the bathroom and lavatory facilities, must come out of revenue? Is it not that type of work, modernising the hospital and making it more efficient, which the present situation is preventing from being done?

That sounded to me like capital expenditure. The total of capital expenditure is annually increasing at a rapid rate.

asked the Minister of Health whether, at hospitals where there are empty beds owing to shortage of staff and a waiting list for hospital treatment, he will take steps to ensure that where staff is available extra finance will be forthcoming to pay them.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to her on 10th December.

Is the Minister aware that my Question is not the same as the other Question which I put down and to which he directs my attention? Would he be so kind as to tell me, if the circumstances in the present Question arise, whether he will take the action which I suggested in the Question? Will he discuss the matter with the Royal College of Nursing when he sees its representatives on Thursday?

In answer to the second part of the Question, I gather so. In answer to the first part, cases must be looked at individually, but most regional boards hold a certain reserve which in their discretion they could, if necessary, apply in this way.

Is the Minister aware that this reserve is smaller this year than it has ever been since the hospital service began? Is he aware that at least one hospital has the staff to open a new ward —I am talking about the St. Helier Hospital, Carshalton—but cannot open it because it has not the money available to pay for the food of the patients who would occupy the ward—according to reports, at any rate?

The ward to which the reports refer is now open.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to secure a significant reduction in hospital waiting lists.

Guidance on reduction of geriatric and similar lists has been issued. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. Measures to reduce other lists will be recommended shortly.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether pilot schemes are being undertaken by hospitals to ensure that the information is available on which to base their recommendations so that they will be realistic and not merely academic exercises?

Yes. The recommendations in all cases are based on practical experience in a number of hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the maintenance allocation to the Greenwich and Deptford Hospital Maintenance Committee for the current year, the amount requested when estimates were prepared, and the percentage increases in monetary and real terms over the allocation for the previous financial year.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the maintenance allocation to the group management committee in respect of the hospitals in the Accrington constituency for the current year, the amount requested when estimates were prepared, and the percentage increases in monetary and real terms over the allocation for the previous financial year.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the maintenance allocation to the group management committee in respect of the hospitals in the Romford constituency far the current year, the amount requested when estimates were prepared, and the percentage increases in monetary and real terms over the allocation for the previous financial year.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the maintenance allocation to the group management committee in respect of the hospitals in the Burnley constituency for the current year, the amount requested when estimates were prepared, and the percentage increases in monetary and real terms over the allocation of the previous financial year.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the maintenance allocation to the group management committee in respect of the hospitals in the West Ham, North, constituency for the current year; the amount requested when estimates were prepared and the percentage increases in monetary and real terms over the allocation of the previous financial year.

As the Answers contain a large number of figures, I am circulating them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

In the meantime, can the Minister indicate whether or not the real purchasing power of these sums represents an increase on last year?

Yes, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that, due to the financial circumstances, letters have been sent out by the Romford Group Hospital Committee advising maintenance staff to seek alternative employment, and does he not think that that is unwise and a false economy?

I have not seen the actual letter and I would not like to judge the action of a hospital management committee without looking at the details.

Will the Estimates involve a reduction in the respective staffs, particularly in Burnley?

No, Sir. The allocations are permitting the expansion of nursing and other staffs throughout the country.

Will the Minister now answer the first half of my last supplementary question? Are not the reserves to which he referred for maintenance for regional boards smaller than ever and in many cases non-existent so that management committees simply cannot recruit nursing staff? What does the Minister intend to de about it?

In many cases recruitment has gone ahead very fast during the earlier part of the year and, in order to keep within the allocations, it has to go ahead at a reduced rate now; but there is no reason why there should be an absolute stop in any region.

Will the Minister not talk just in terms merely of additional staff but of those hospitals throughout the country which, because of his meanness, are having to reduce staff, as was indicated in an Answer the right hon. Gentleman gave me last Monday?

Referring to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member last Monday, most, if not all, of the reductions referred to in that Question were called for on grounds of good administration and efficiency.

Can the Minister give an assurance that the money available to hospitals in my constituency will not result in any diminution of the services which they want to perform?

It is sufficient to permit a real increase in the content of the services which they are giving.

asked the Minister of Health what allocation for expenditure on minor works and maintenance, respectively, has been made to the group management committee in respect of hospitals in Blackburn; and how this compares with the amounts requested and with the allocation for the previous financial year.

Allocations are not made for individual items of revenue expenditure. The board has approved expenditure of £2,200 on minor capital works this year, compared with £3,274 last.

Is it not the fact that many of these urgent minor works are being held up; and that the right hon. Gentleman's grand new hospital scheme is being operated at the expense of immediate improvements that could, with very small expenditure, and fairly quickly, do a great deal to improve existing facilities? Will he not, therefore, look into this matter again?

Of course, a balance has to be kept between the application of the total available capital to new buildings and to minor works, but there is still a great mass of capital being expended upon minor works as opposed to the major new projects. It is for each board to select, year by year, the minor works that it will put in hand.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to conclude his consideration of the Report of the Study Group appointed by him to inquire into the position of hospital engineers.

I cannot yet add to my reply to the hon. Member on 10th December.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these key workers in the hospital service have not had any increment in their remuneration since November, 1960? Does he not realise that they were looking forward to his conclusions on this Report, which he got last February, to help not only with salary reconsideration but also with matters of grading, qualifications, training and a whole lot of other important aspects of their work?

As I assured the hon. Member last week, and as I have informed him since—I think that he will have heard from me—the fact that there has not yet been a decision on these recommendations is in no way holding up negotiations on pay. The claim is at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health what is the increase in the number of those awaiting hospital treatment now and a year ago in the Sheffield region; and what is the difference between the number of nursing staff employed in the region now and then.

Waiting lists in this region decreased by over 2,300 in the year ended 30th September, 1962; nurses increased by over 1,000 whole-time equivalent.

Is the hon. Gentleman then satisfied that there is sufficient nursing staff to deal with the urgent cases in this region?

Certainly not, but, as the figures I have just given indicate, staffs are increasing rapidly.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will supply medical record cards and their holders in more serviceable material.

They seem tough enough.

The next time my right hon. Friend visits his G.P., will he look at his card and see how tatty these cards become with a little wear, so tatty that they would disgrace a paper chase?

The quality of paper does not seem responsible for that. It may not be generally known that a gussetted version can be obtained which will permit more than the average number of papers to be inserted in one holder.

asked the Minister of Health how far the number of medical students in British universities in the years 1960–61 and 1961–62 fell short of his estimates for student doctors in those years.

I have made no such estimates.

Is it not the situation that the universities could have taken more students in these years? Is the right hon. Gentleman preparing for a considerable expansion in the number of students in medical schools in the coming years when the number of students available from State schools will be much higher than it is now?

Questions of student expansion are not for me, but the hon. Member and the House will be glad to know that the number of British students of medicine entering our universities increased last autumn by 6 per cent. and this autumn by 8 per cent.

Since almost everybody, except, possibly, the Minister, agrees that we need a considerable increase in the number of doctors in the National Health Service, has the right hon. Gentleman had any discussions with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Education on the prospects of opening new medical schools in the foreseeable future, and with what results?

I do not think that it is a question for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education. As the hon. Member will know, the Government have discussed with the University Grants Committee the conclusion about the increase of medical intake which was announced to the House last year, but the trend of the intake at present is very sharply upwards.

asked the Minister of Health by how much he estimates that the annual cost of dental treatment under the National Health Service would be reduced, if one part per million of fluoride were added to all drinking water.

I regret it is not possible to make an estimate.

Would not the incidence of dental decay be reduced by more than 50 per cent. if one part per million of fluoride were added to drinking water? Would it not be a good idea if the addition of fluoride were stimulated by the Ministry of Health making a contribution towards meeting the costs which local authorities will incur as a result of adding fluoride to drinking water?

The answer to the second supplementary question is that we do. As the hon. Member has said, fluoridation is expected to reduce the incidence of dental decay among children by half, and the increase of caries resistance should persist well into middle age. But it is quite impossible to estimate the financial effect on the general dental service. The effect will be less to reduce costs than to make a more effective and economic use of the nation's dental manpower.

Would not the cost of dental treatment be considerably reduced if children were encouraged to eat fewer sweets and iced lollies and to clean their teeth with greater regularity rather than that the Government should bring in any form of mass medication?

I agree with my hon. Friend that more discipline on the part of parents and children would go a long way towards reducing dental decay.

asked the Minister of Health in what forms, other than by fluoridation of the water supply, fluorides can be made available for general consumption; and what would be the comparative costs of introducing each method on a national scale.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 30th July to the hon. Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Butler).

Is it not a fact that fluorides are available in pills and toothpaste, and in foodstuffs and in other forms which the public can quite readily acquire should they require to do so, and would it not be much cheaper to encourage them to do this than to do what he is proposing?

No, it would not be cheaper for a given effect because I am advised that there is no other method of preventing dental decay which is as effective as correction of the deficiency of natural fluoride where that exists.

Does my right hon. Friend recollect that the campaign against chlorination of water and pasteurisation of milk were both conducted on the ground that this was mass-medication, and in view of the now overwhelming evidence that this is the cheapest and most effective way of benefiting the health of children, will he do his utmost to encourage local authorities to undertake this?

I am sure that my hon. Friend speaks with the voice of the overwhelming majority of people.

asked the Minister of Health what research has been conducted to investigate the cumulative effects of imbibing fluoride; and what conclusions have been reached.

The main research with the conclusions reached is summarised in Appendix 8 of the Report on the Fluoridation Studies in the United Kingdom.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied from these reports that there is no danger at all of cumulative effects over at least a generation of time, and can he say whether it is possible to vary the contents of fluoridation according to the needs of the individual or even according to the nature of the water which is being treated?

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is, yes, absolutely. As regards the second part, the main object of fluoridation is to bring the fluoride content, whatever it may be, up to a given level. There is no need for a variation in the level of fluoridation in areas where this is carried out artificially any more than in areas where fluoride is naturally present.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give a figure estimating how many hundred of millions of people on this planet are drinking water which has more than one part per million, and is there any evidence whatever that they come to any harm by it?

I cannot give the total number. In this country it is about one-third of a million and in the United States, I believe, it is over 7 million, and there is no such evidence or suggestion whatsoever.

asked the Minister of Health if he will introduce legislation to make action for the prevention of bronchitis and lung cancer mandatory upon local authorities.

No, Sir.

Does the Minister recollect that forty years ago similar legislation was introduced regarding tuberculosis and that there was a regular drop of 3 per cent. in the incidence of this disease over the following period? In view of the fact that bronchitis is now the No. 1 killer and that we are losing 30 million days of production each year owing to bronchitis, would he not give us something more satisfactory than "No, Sir"?

If I could legislate bronchitis and lung cancer away, of course I would. The question is whether it is right to take this aspect out of the whole range of the preventive health functions of the local health authorities and make this one mandatory. I do not think that there would be any gain from this.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House, if he feels he cannot do this, what he has in mind to do, particularly concerning lung cancer, and whether, as stated later on the Order Paper, we expect an additional 1 million deaths in the next 30 years?

As the hon. Member says, there is a Question on that later.

How does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile the sympathetic answer that he gave just now to his hon. Friend who wanted to deprive children of sweets in order to preserve their teeth with his reluctance to do anything to deprive people of cigarettes to preserve their lives?

I am not reluctant to bring to the notice of people by every means that I can the fact that there is a close causal connection between the smoking of cigarettes and the incidence of lung cancer.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to take to combat the increasing number of deaths from bronchitis.

I understand the Medical Research Council is promoting study of causes and treatment. My Standing Medical Advisory Committee is considering further measures of prevention and care.

Is the Minister satisfied —as many medical people are not—that sufficient attention is being given to the question of atmospheric pollution? Is he aware that in Leicester great difficulty is caused owing to the fact that the power stations are emitting a considerable amount of smoke and sulphates? Why does not the right hon. Gentleman hurry the matter up and see what can be done to prevent the kind of thing that happened recently, and thereby avoid the considerable increase in the number of deaths from bronchial trouble?

If the hon. Gentleman has a question on air pollution, perhaps he would be good enough to address it to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

Has the Minister examined the figures, showing that 378 deaths per 100,000 occur in this country at the age of 50, as compared with two per 100,000 in Norway, where they do not have the same air pollution problems that we have? Will not he take this matter seriously?

I do take it seriously. It is one of the scourges of this country. That is why the research that I mentioned is in hand, and also why I am seeking further advice from my medical advisers.

What did the right hon. Gentleman mean when he said that this was a matter for the Minister of Housing and Local Government? Has he fallen out with that Minister? Why has he not had a word or two with him about the matter? He understands what the problem is. When will the right hon. Gentleman consult the Minister of Housing and Local Government?

It is merely that it is the custom for a Minister to answer Questions falling within his Departmental responsibility.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that within 30 years a million deaths will occur in Britain from cancer of the lung; and what further action he will take to prevent this.

No reliable estimate can be made; better facilities for treatment and persistent discouragement of smoking, especially of cigarettes.

With reference to the persistent discouragement of smoking, especially of cigarettes, is the Minister aware that this is seriously handicapped by the fact that enormous sums of money are still being spent urging young people, in particular, to smoke cigarettes? Is there nothing further which he can do which will help to prevent smoking, rather than relying on the cure of a horrible disease such as this? Will he do this instead of waiting until it manifests itself among the public?

I am sure that the effectiveness of continuous health education of all kinds cannot be measured in terms of money against the outlay upon advertisements. I believe that it is a long job, but it is a job which in the long run is bound to produce a big effect. Meanwhile, the hon. Member may have noticed that the advertisers have agreed to eliminate certain slants, particularly directed at young people, from their advertising matter.

Can the Minister give the House any information about whether there is any chance of an early break-through in the earlier diagnosis of lung cancer or any other types of cancer? This is being very anxiously considered in the country, and if he has any information which he can give to show that during the next few years there are likely to be any advances it will be very welcome indeed.

Certainly not without notice. I doubt whether it would be a proper subject on which I should give an answer at all.

In connection with the advertising campaign to which the Minister referred, what action is he taking with the Poster Manufacturers' Association, who have taken it upon themselves to ban some of the posters which have been approved for display by the Minister of Health?

I am in communication with them about this.

asked the Minister of Health what salary scale attaches to the post of chief welfare officer in his Department, applications for which were recently invited.

£2,565 per annum.

Is the Minister not aware that at least half a dozen local authorities pay their chief welfare officers a considerably higher salary than this, and since his chief departmental officer ought surely to be at the top of the welfare profession, how does he expect to get the best applicants for the job at this salary?

There has been, in fact, no lack of applicants for the job. This salary was recently fixed by agreement through the Civil Service negotiating machinery.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the drug meclozine, a travel sickness pill, causes deformity in infants if taken by pregnant women; that its sale has been stopped in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, following Swedish observation of the effects of the drug; whether it is issuable under National Health prescription; and if he will make a statement.

I understand this effect is so far not established, but chemists have been advised to supply certain preparations containing the drug on prescription only; no country, to my knowledge, has prohibited sale.

Does the Minister say that he has inquired as to whether the sale has been prohibited in the countries referred to in the Question because, according to the information that I have received, that is the case, and will he make very careful inquiries to see if the drug is one which should be given even under prescription?

Yes, Sir. I have inquired and the result of my inquiry is as I have told the hon. Member.

Is it not a fact that the manufacturer in one country at least, I believe it is Sweden, has withdrawn the drug and, if that is the case, ought not the Minister to make it clear to the House?

We are talking about a drug that enters into a large number of preparations and I am not aware of the incident to which the hon. Member referred.

When my right hon. Friend says that he advises chemists only to supply the drug on prescription, surely that implies that he is highly suspicious of this drug, and in view of the terrible tragedies which happened recently and strong public opinion, does he not think that he should go further than merely advise?

This drug has been referred to the Poisons Board, but in advance of any decision by the Board the Pharmaceutical Society thought it right to give this advice to their members.

In view of the fact that we now suspect that women in the early months of pregnancy are not able to detoxify abnormal substances which they take by mouth, a power which they regain after the first three or four months, is not the best advice to give to women in early pregnancy to take no drugs of any kind if they can possibly avoid it?

I am sure that the consideration which the hon. Gentleman mentioned in his supplementary question will be in the minds of the medical profession in advising their patients.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities are short of public health inspectors; and what is the estimated national shortage.

I regret this information is not available.

Does the hon. Member know that, through the Association of Municipal Corporations, a survey has been made of the existing shortage? Nearly all the large authorities are desperately short of public health inspectors. In view of the proposals for slum clearance and clean air, does not the hon. Member think that his Department should be taking this matter seriously by carrying out an adequate survey and inquiring into the top salary offered to these people?

I take note of what the hon. Lady says. It is true that in some areas—especially industrial areas—there is a shortage. I will ask my right hon. Friend to take note of the hon. Lady's observations.

asked the Minister of Health what recent reports he has received from his medical advisers on the effects of the use of sedatives, especially sleeping pills; and whether he will make a statement.

None, Sir.

Has the attention of the Minister been drawn to the report, which appeared recently in the Evening News, that 27 million prescriptions are issued each year and that 1,500,000 sleeping pills are used each night in this country? Will he look into this and consider whether a national campaign should be organised to educate people to an awareness of the problem of the overuse of drugs, and even try to counteract the cause—which to a large extent is due to high pressure salesmanship?

I am sure that these matters are in the minds of the medical profession in prescribing for and advising their patients.

Does the right hon. Gentleman regard Schweppes as a sedative?

There is an appeal ultimately to me on these matters, but prima facie it does not seem to me that this would be prescribable on Form E.C.10.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into this problem, because I told his Department of the existence of this report in the Evening News? I am sorry he has found it unnecessary to look into the problem.

I am sorry, but I did not connect any communication from the right hon. and learned Gentleman with this question. Indeed, I was at a loss to know his precise point. I will certainly look at the matter and see whether I can write to him further about it.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is satisfied that, in view of present psychiatric medical training facilities in Wales, the accommodation allowed to a psychiatric department in the new teaching hospital to be built in Cardiff will be fully deployed; and if he will make a statement;

My right hon. Friend is aware of the concern expressed; it is for the university to decide on the allocation of its funds; my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the accommodation will be fully used.

Is the Minister aware that Wales will find this a very dusty answer? Does he know that the Minister for Welsh Affairs, over the last two years, has on at least one occasion expressed a wish for a chair and department of psychiatry, and that the Welsh Regional Hospital Board has protested on at least three occasions asking for such a chair? In view of the fact that the Minister's plan for Wales, as for elsewhere, is to reduce by half the number of mental health beds, how can he hope to achieve this—since he is gambling on new therapeutic advances —without the chair and department of psychiatry that have repeatedly been demanded?

Doctors in Wales do not have to await the setting up of a university chair of psychiatry in order to qualify for the Diploma of Psychological Medicine. They can, and do, get their training in mental hospitals. This is not an ideal situation and we would like to see some improvement. Equally, it is not peculiar to Wales. But the treatment of patients is in no wise affected.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the monopolistic position of Imperial Chemical Industries as the manufacturer of the anaesthetic fluothane, he will now include a costings clause for all future contracts for this anaesthetic.

I am in negotiation with the firm on this among other points.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the absence of facilities for curing multiple sclerosis in this country, he will assist patients to get treatment by the Le Gac method in Belgium.

No, Sir.

If this treatment is not available in this country, are the sufferers from this disease simply to be left with no cure at all? Will the Minister stretch a point and try something which is apparently available just across the Channel?

Similar methods to Dr. Le Gac's could be used in this country if doctors wished to use them. It is not for my right hon. Friend to arrange for a specific form of treatment to be given. This is a matter for the doctors.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the letter sent to him on 9th November by the hon. Member for Ladywood, concerning complaints made by Miss Edith O'Shaughnessy, a polio victim, of Lady-wood, Birmingham, of the dangerous and defective condition of invalid chairs issued to her; and if he will make an inquiry with a view to providing a more adequate and safer service to disabled persons.

The hon. Member will now have had my reply of 11th December to his letter.

While I appreciate that the Minister has replied since I put down the Question, may I ask him whether he will go further into the matter and have a wider inquiry? Is he aware that the Infantile Paralysis Association in Birmingham has recently drawn attention to the question of an invalid who called for a chair which was supposed to have been repaired but which broke down four times? The case which I mentioned was of a lady in danger of an accident, and probably the accident which she had resulted from this situation. Will he satisfy himself that everything is being done to provide an adequate service?

Certainly. Perhaps the hon. Member will give me particulars of the case which he has cited. In regard to the case to which the Question refers, I very much regret that there were delays, and the firm of repairers have been reminded of their responsibilities to ensure that delays of this kind do not occur. We try to speed these matters up.

asked the Minister of Health what study he has made of the extent to which changes would be required in the constitution and powers of the General Medical Council in order to implement the provisions of the Treaty of Rome.

I am advised that none would necessarily be required.

Will the Minister remember that, as the General Medical Council is a sub-committee of the Privy Council, if there are any changes to be involved they will be fundamental, constitutional ones?

I am not certain that I would necessarily agree with my hon. Friend's logic, but I am in close touch with the General Medical Council over this.

Does not the Minister mean by "none necessarily" that if the General Medical Council sees fit to recognise the qualifications that they are required to recognise under the Treaty of Rome there will be no legislation necessary, but that if it refuses it will be compelled to do so by legislation?

No. I mean that there is nothing in accession to the Treaty of Rome which would necessarily require the powers or the composition of the Geenral Medical Council to be altered.

asked the Minister of Health what recognition is given to audiology technicians who have gained the diploma of their profession; and what steps he is taking to encourage all audiology technicians to become qualified.

None, Sir. Hospital authorities have been advised to provide training on a recommended syllabus.

In view of the importance of these technicians undertaking the whole range of the duties falling within their province, and the way they have organised their profession so as to award a diploma, would it not be advisable for the Ministry to give recognition to encourage more probationer technicians to become the expert, qualified people the service needs?

The Department has advised all employing authorities to give training in accordance with an outline syllabus that has been drawn up after consultation, and I think that that is where we can leave it.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to be able to publish information obtained in the 1961 Census regarding the number of houses in England and Wales without bathrooms.

In the County Reports, beginning next February.