MINISTRY OF HEALTH ACT, 1919. (Hansard, 14 April 1921)

§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE
I wish to call attention to this extremely important Draft Order which gees to the root of the formation of the Ministry of Health. The formation of the Ministry of Health was heralded with great words as regards the prospects of the custody of the health of the nation and to it were referred certain powers, while certain other powers were reserved that might be added afterwards. Thirdly, there was a general power of taking over other powers that might conduce to the national health. Amongst the powers that were mostly excluded were those that are vital to the health of the community at present administered by the Home Office, and it was a very serious and sound criticism of the Ministry of Health in its original constitution and conception that the whole question of health in the factories as administered by the Home Office should have been excluded from the functions of the Ministry. However, we have some very small contribution in the right direction by this draft Order. I may say, incidentally, that it is extremely difficult to keep watch on what goes on in this way in this House. It was with the greatest difficulty that I obtained a copy of this Order. I was told it was not to be had in the Vote Office, and I fished it out in the Library with the help of the Librarian, and I was then able to get a copy of it in the Vote Office. This Order transfers to the Ministry of Health certain powers and duties of certain sections of the Factory and Workshops Act, 1901, and these are the powers transferred, namely: Section 61 (Prohibition of employment of women after childbirth), Sections 97 to 100 (Provisions relating to bakehouses), Section 109 (Making of wearing apparel where there is scarlet fever or smallpox), and Section 110 (Prohibition of home work where there is infectious disease). There will be no doubt that those are all pertinent to the Ministry of Health, and we should like the Ministry to have these powers. But I feel sure the House will agree with me that they are small details entirely out of relation to any comprehensive conception of the duties of the Ministry of Health as regards the health of the people in their working hours. I hope therefore this may be a prelude only, by slow but steady steps, to the gradual transference to the Ministry of Health 1440 as and when it may be convenient and possible, of the whole general conception and survey of health matters in factories and workshops. I think this is a step in the right direction, but I would only warn the House as to how these matters are taken as a matter of course and routine, and they require a great deal more understanding and inquiry than is given to them, but I hope when the right hon. Gentleman has got well into the saddle at the Ministry he will not consider it necessary simply to rise in his place and bow his head, but will explain an Order which I think is quite unintelligible to any Member of the House.

§ Captain W. BENN
I think it would have been more considerate to the House if the Minister of Health had been so good as to explain what these Orders are. I have secured copies, and, so far as I can judge, there is no objection to them, but I think he might have explained them, notwithstanding the fatiguing day he has had. Can he assure us that the transference of these powers does not mean that he will come to the House for additional staff or additional money? What seems to me likely to happen is that the Department relinquishing the powers will go on with the old staff and expenditure according to the Estimate presented, and the Minister of Health, finding these new powers presented to him, will come for more staff and more money.

§ Sir A. MOND
I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that it was from no want of courtesy that I did not explain these details, but the hour being late I thought Members desired to get home. It is not intended or considered necessary to appoint any additional staff to take over these duties; in fact, the intention is to endeavour to entrust certain duties to the Home Office who will be better able to deal with them, and, in the meantime, no additional staff will be required.

§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE
I would only like to add what I have said before, that this is no ordinary matter that should be glossed over in a few minutes. Here we are, constituting what may in the future be one of the most vital 1441 Ministries of the State. We are taking to-day certain powers, and transferring certain other powers, and are doing it in the way customary to our Constitution, by degrees, as we are able to arrange for the transference of duties. Yet the Minister thinks that this is a trivial matter, which can be dealt with by a shake of the head. I think it is vital to recognise here that we are helping in the hatching out of the egg of the Ministry of Health from the old egg of the Local Government Board. It is only right that we should do so by degrees. I hope that process will continue, but I hope that in doing so the House will recognise that they are not simply changing duties from one Department to another, but giving an opportunity to assist, enlarge, and strengthen the work of the Ministry of Health.