HC Deb 12 November 1902 vol 114 cc748-9
MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the Secretary for Scotland is aware that the Lewis District Committee report that, in consequence of the public health assessment for the Lewis district for the past year being at the maximum rate of 1s. per £, they are unable to borrow the money required for the construction of a hospital at Carlo-way, the plans of which have been approved by the Local Government Board; and, in view of the fact that this hospital is urgently needed for cases of infectious diseases, will he state whether the Secretary for Scotland proposes to take any steps, by legislation or otherwise, to enable local authorities to provide hospital accommodation for infectious diseases in the congested districts of the Island of Lewis.

MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question of yesterday.†

MR. WEIR

The right hon. Gentleman has not, evidently, read the Question. The latter part of it is not referred to in the answer I got yesterday—viz., does the Secretary for Scotland propose to take any steps, by legislation or otherwise, to enable local authorities to provide hospital accommodation.

MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY

I said that we could not take steps at this present moment.

MR. WEIR

I am quite aware of that, but—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The right hon. Gentleman has fully answered the Question.

MR. WEIR

No, Sir; the Question is—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! I cannot enter into any argument whether or not the answer is satisfactory.

MR. WEIR

But—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. WEIR

I must take another opportunity of dealing with this question.