§ 24. Sir MAURICE DOCKRELLasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Ireland made a very large contribution to the medical and nursing staff of the nation during the War, and that the skill of those serving was to a large extent acquired in the voluntary hospitals of Ireland; if he will explain why Ireland was excluded from the reference to the Committee appointed by the late Minister of Health, and is in consequence excluded from the grant of £500,000 about to be made to the voluntary hospitals of the United Kingdom other than those of Ireland; and if Ireland will be granted a sum at least proportioned to her taxation as part of the United Kingdom?
§ Sir A. MONDI gladly acknowledge the value of the work of the voluntary hospitals of Ireland. I understand that Ireland was excluded from the purview of Lord Cave's Committee, as it was thought that the Irish Parliaments might be left free to provide, as they may think fit, for the needs of Irish hospitals. The last part of the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant.
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Clause 1 of the Report of the Cave Committee they evidently contemplate the inclusion of Ireland in the reference, and that in Clause 56 they base the recommendation for a grant from the Government upon the fact that the voluntary hospitals of this country did very fine work in treating wounded soldiers? Further, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was no country which did more in proportion to its resources in this respect than Ireland for wounded soldiers, and will he take steps to prevent gross injustice to Ireland, which will occur if Irish hospitals are excluded from participa- 2148 tion in this grant; will the right hon. Gentleman kindly give favourable consideration to this matter, which involves a very great hardship?
§ Sir A. MONDAs I pointed out in my previous answer, Ireland was not included in the purview of Lord Cave's Committee or in the reference, and therefore the grant which I am going to ask the House to give cannot be affected by any question regarding Ireland. Ireland is not within the purview of my Department, and any further questions on the subject should be addressed to the Chief Secretary for Ireland.
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLIf Ireland had been included in the reference, would the right hon. Gentleman feel it his duty to recommend a grant to Ireland?
§ Mr. DEVLINMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, as Ireland pays its proportion to the taxation of the country, and as this is a grant to relieve hospitals out of taxation, Ireland is not entitled to an equivalent grant for the purpose for which the general sum is intended?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should put that question to another Minister.
§ Mr. DEVLINMay I, then, ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will not confer with the Chief Secretary for Ireland and see if the Irish Government cannot do something on behalf of those who are ill in Irish hospitals, instead of merely driving more people into those hospitals?
§ Sir A. MONDI am not responsible for the health of Ireland, and to confer with the Chief Secretary on a matter of Irish business is not within the scope of my duties.
§ 50. Mr. LEONARD LYLEasked the Prime Minister what steps, apart from the grant of money towards voluntary hospitals, he proposes to take to give effect to the recommendations of Lord Cave's Committee dealing with the improvement of the financial position of these institutions?
§ Sir A. MONDI have been asked to reply to this question. I am now taking steps to appoint a Hospitals Commission which will be responsible for the estab- 2149 lishment of local voluntary hospital committees, for the distribution of the State grant and for assisting in raising fresh revenue and in combining and coordinating the activities of the hospitals generally on the lines recommended by Lord Cave's Committee. The other recommendations of that Committee, some of which would require legislation, are still under consideration.
§ Mr. LYLEIn view of the fact that the Finance Bill is passing through the House at the present time, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the Government will consider the Report of the Cave Committee, which recommended that the contributions of employers should be exempt for the purposes of Income Tax?
§ Sir A. MONDYes, that point will certainly be considered.
§ Mr. DEVLINWill there be a representative on this Commission from Ireland?
§ Sir A. MONDNo, Sir!
§ Mr. DEVLINMay I ask why there is no representative from Ireland on the Commission?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat arose on an earlier question, and was answered. Any further question should be addressed either to the Prime Minister or to the Chief Secretary for Ireland.
§ Mr. DEVLINOn a point of Order. The reasons given by the Minister of Health as to why Ireland is not getting an equivalent grant from this fund recommended by Lord Cave's Committee was that there was no representative of Ireland on that Committee—[HON. MEMBERS: "No, no!"]—and I want to know why there is no representative from Ireland?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman has received an answer.
§ Mr. DEVLINMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House to answer why? [HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order!"]
§ At the end of Questions—
§ Mr. DEVLINCan the Leader of the House say why there is no Irish repre- 2150 sentative on the Committee which is to deal with the allocation of the £500,000 to the hospitals?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is too late now to raise that question.