Colonel MILDWAY(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health whether he can make any announcement as to the decision of the Government on the Report of Lord Cave's Committee with reference to voluntary hospitals?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Alfred Mond)The Government have decided, in view of the serious state of the voluntary hospitals, to ask the House to vote a Supplementary Estimate of £500,000 in aid of the deficits during the present year. This money will be under the control of a Commission and Committees recommended by the Cave Committee, and I am taking immediate steps to appoint the Commission. In view of the serious financial position of the country, the Government have decided 1557 with regret that they cannot give effect to the full recommendation of the Cave Committee for a grant of £1,000,000. They confidently anticipate that, as they have done their part, voluntary effort will come forward and find the balance required, and thus maintain the root principle of the voluntary system.
§ Earl WINTERTONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, are we to understand that this money is going to be distributed by a Committee or Commission ad hoc, and not by any existing body.
§ Sir A. MONDA Commission is recommended by the Cave Committee ad hoc, and the composition of the Commission is recommended by the Cave Committee. I propose that the Chairman should be the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Lord Onslow.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill any conditions be attached to this gift of £500,000?
§ Sir A. MONDConditions will have to be attached undoubtedly. Means will have to be proved, and the position of the various hospitals ascertained. As I indicated, it is hoped that a voluntary effort will be made commensurate with the sum which the Government is proposing to grant.
§ Captain REDMONDAre Irish voluntary hospitals to be included, or are we to understand that they are not to have any share?
§ Sir A. MONDHon. Members, who study the Cave Committee Report, will see that Scottish hospitals are, of course, included, and the Secretary of State for Scotland will have power to appoint a representative on the Committee. As regards the Irish hospitals, I do not think they were included in the scheme of the inquiry.
§ Mr. DEVLINWhy were they not? Are they not doing the same humane work as the hospitals in England?
§ Sir A. MONDIf the Irish people like to set up a Home Rule Parliament, they can deal with this as with other questions.
§ Captain REDMONDAnd pay £18,000,000.
§ Colonel MILDMAYWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that private contributions to hospitals at the present moment are greatly in excess of what they were before the War, even in the present difficult circumstances?
§ Sir PHILIP MAGNUSMay I ask whether it is proposed that the grant of £500,000 will be conditional on a similar sum being obtained from private sources?
§ Sir A. MONDI have already indicated that we expect a corresponding private effort to be made. I cannot lay down the whole scheme in an answer to a question, but I propose that the full scheme and the manner in which it is to be carried out, shall be placed before the House in due course.