§ SIR THOMAS DEWARTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the remarks made at the Lambeth Coroner's Court last autumn by Mr. Troutbeck, the coroner, relative to the inefficiency of the metropolitan ambulance service; and can he see his way to introduce such legislation as may be necessary to enable metropolitan boroughs to provide an efficient service.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) I have not been able to trace the remarks of Mr. Troutbeck to which the hon. Member refers. There is at present no general metropolitan ambulance service. Such a service, if provided at all, ought, in my opinion, to be provided for the whole of London by a single authority and not by the various borough councils. I understand that the London County Council have the matter at present under their considera- 6 tion. Cases of illness and accidents that occur in the streets are dealt with by the metropolitan police ambulances.