HC Deb 01 December 1938 vol 342 cc592-3
66. Mr. Garro Jones

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the establishment, in co-operation with local authorities, voluntary organisations, or otherwise, of a number of hospitals and clinics to be staffed by medical and other refugees and placed in areas where specialist and general facilities for treatment of disease are inadequate?

Mr. Elliot

Responsibility for health matters is by Statute entrusted to local authorities who have in particular power to provide institutional accommodation. The employment of personnel is at the discretion of the local authorities, and I do not think it would be possible for me to take steps as suggested by the hon. Member.

Mr. Garro Jones

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that no local authority, apart from the London County Council, has a jurisdiction wide enough to make such a proposal practicable, and will he, therefore, undertake at least to take this suggestion into consideration and to discuss it with some local authorities and with the voluntary organisations concerned?

Mr. Elliot

Many of the great local authorities are quite comparable with the London County Council in the population they cover and the revenues they enjoy.

Mr. Garro Jones

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake, at any rate, to discuss it with some of the voluntary organisations, particularly having regard to the fact that a large number of persons of this class are in this country with diminishing resources as refugees?

Mr. Elliot

If the voluntary organisations have any proposals to lay before me I shall be glad to consider them.