§ 32. Mr. ASTORasked the President of the Local Government Board what is the total amount of the Grant that was made available by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in a letter, dated 31st July, 1912, to Mr. Hobhouse which has already been distributed to local authorities by the Local Government Board; and what is the total which it is estimated will have to be paid by the Treasury to local authorities through the Local Government Board ultimately when treatment is provided for all persons in England who are neither insured nor dependants?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)The sum of £125,000 included in the Estimates for this purpose has not yet been voted, so that it has not yet been possible to make any Grants to local authorities on maintenance account in aid of their sanatorium schemes. It is not practicable at present to make any reliable estimate of the possible ultimate charge.
§ 33. Mr. ASTORasked how much of the' capital Grant made available by the Finance Act, 1911, for providing institutions for the treatment of tuberculosis has already been spent in England on providing new tuberculosis dispensaries and new sanatoria and hospitals for the treatment of tuberculous patients, respectively; and the names of those authorities who have already spent this money?
§ Mr. BURNSCapital Grants amounting to £11,491 have been made to authorities in England in aid of expenditure already incurred in providing tuberculosis dispensaries and sanatoria for the treatment of tuberculosis. These Grants have been paid to the county council of Devon, and the corporations of Birkenhead, Birmingham, Eastbourne, and Leicester. Further Grants, amounting to £36,900, have been promised to various authorities in aid of expenditure already incurred or now being incurred, and large capital Grants have also been promised to more than fifty other authorities whose schemes have been approved by the Board. The whole capital Grant available for England has been provisionally allocated to counties and county boroughs on the basis of population.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSDo I understand that out of that £1,116,000 only £11,000 has actually been spent?
§ Mr. BURNSBut it must not be assumed that that is what it is going to be very shortly. They are practically total Grants committing the Treasury and the Local Government Board to further expenditure which is to be incurred.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWhen is it likely that the rest of the money will be spent, so that those who are seeking sanatorium treatment may get it?
§ Mr. BURNSNow that the schemes for buildings are well in hand a great deal of money will have to come from this large sum. So far as the actual patients are concerned there has not yet proved to be any deficiency of accommodation.