HC Deb 05 August 1913 vol 56 cc1446-8

(1) It shall be lawful for the council of any county or county borough to make any such arrangements as may be sanctioned by the Local Government Board for the treatment of disease and for the provision of laboratory facilities for use in connection with the treatment or prevention of disease.

(2) Any expenses incurred in providing such treatment or facilities shall, in the case of a council of a county borough, be defrayed as part of the expenses incurred by them in the execution of the Public Health Acts, and in The case of a county council as expenses for general county purposes, or if the Local Government Board by order so direct, as expenses for special county purposes charged on such part of the county as may be provided by the order.

Amendment made: In Sub-section (1): Leave out the words "county borough" and insert instead thereof the words "or any sanitary authority."

Mr. HAYES FISHER

I beg to move in Sub-section (1) to leave out the word "disease" ["prevention of disease"], and to insert instead thereof the word "tuberculosis."

This very much limits the Bill, but I think it ought to be done. This Bill, as it was introduced and read a second time, gives enormous powers to the county councils. Such ought not to be given at a very late period in the Session and without any general direction by the House, either on Second Reading or in Committee. After all, these powers are very large. It will give the power to county councils to make any repayment hereafter for the treatment of any disease whatever; that is to say, it will be lawful hereafter for any county council either to construct, equip, or maintain any hospital or convalescent home; and it would be perfectly possible to overthrow the whole of our policy of voluntary hospitals in London, and to put those hospitals on the rates.

That may or may not be a wise policy; some day we may discuss it in this House. But it is a policy which ought not to be adopted at a very early hour of the morning, under a Bill which cannot possibly reveal the real possibilities of the measure to those who are discussing it. It ought not to be adopted without very full and very thorough consideration. I think the right hon. Gentleman will agree with me that he will obtain all that he can at present desire, if he secures that it should be lawful for county councils in the future to make any arrangements, which should be sanctioned by the Local Government Board, for the treatment of tuberculosis That is a matter which has been discussed in this House, and we are all agreed that the county councils should co-operate with the national exchequer, and with other bodies for the building of sanatoria. This Bill will give the county councils further power, not only to build sanatoria, and to treat tuberculosis for those insured under the National Insurance Act, but also for those who are not insured. It will not compel county councils to take any such action, but it will make it perfectly legal for them to take that action if they choose so to take it. It. will be a power, very valuable, no doubt to those interested in carrying out the National Insurance Act, and very valuable to those interested in combating this disease, and I think the right hon. Gentleman will agree that this Bill, so limited, will be a very valuable Bill, and one that will promote the object which all of us have at heart, whether we sit on one side of the House or on the other.

Mr. BURNS

I accept the Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In paragraph (1) Sub-section (3) leave out the words, "and for the provision of laboratory facilities for use in connection with the treatment or prevention of disease," and insert instead thereof the words, "provided that the powers conferred by this Section shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other powers."—[Mr. Burns.]

Mr. HICKS BEACH

I beg to move, in Sub-section (3), paragraph (2) to leave out the words "in providing such treatment or facilities," and to insert instead thereof the words "under this Act." I understand that this Amendment is accepted by the Local Government Board.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In Subsection (3) leave out the words, "council of a county borough," and insert instead thereof the words, "sanitary authority."—[Captain Jessel.]