§ 68. Major ASTORasked the President of the Local Government Board how many councils of counties and county boroughs have submitted to the Board complete schemes for the diagnosis and treatment of venereal diseases; how many of these schemes have been approved by the Board; and how many are already in operation?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)The Regulations and Circular were only issued about three weeks ago and no complete schemes have yet been submitted to the Board. 682 Numerous negotiations and conferences have, however, already taken place, and I am glad to observe that considerable activity is being displayed by local authorities in carrying out the duties imposed on them.
§ Major ASTORMay I ask, in view of the urgency of this question, and the fact that the Royal Commission reported six months ago and the President of the Local Government Board stated four months ago he was going to deal with the question, why there was such delay in issuing the circular to the local authorities?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERThere have been many reasons for that; I cannot give them in an answer. My hon. Friend knows perfectly well how depleted the staffs have been, the difficulties in carrying on negotiations and the many difficulties which arise in asking local authorities to do anything more at the present moment. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member my right hon. Friend is as zealous as he is to carry out the work, and we have every reason to believe the local authorities are extremely anxious to do all they can.