HC Deb 13 March 1918 vol 104 cc307-8
52. Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government intend to proceed this Session with a Bill for the establishment of a Ministry of Health; and, if so, whether the Bill will be introduced at an early date?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any statement on this subject.

Sir W. COLLINS

Has any progress been made with an agreed scheme as between the Government Departments concerned as to the Ministry of Health, to which the right hon. Gentleman referred in a reply some months ago?

Mr. BONAR LAW

Consultations have been taking place regularly. They are still going on, and those who are conducting them are sanguine enough to hope that there will be an agreement.

Mr. ANDERSON

Is it not a very serious thing that all this infantile mortality should be going on, and cannot the Government give us any hope that a scheme of this kind will be brought forward at an early date?

Mr. BONAR LAW

Notice has been given of the introduction of a Bill especially dealing with that, but it does not affect in one way or other the larger question of the Ministry of Health.