§ 31. Mr. L. LYLEasked the Minister of Health whether, under the terms of his Departmental Paper 1,402, giving the terms of appointment of the Voluntary Hospitals Commission, the announcement that after the first emergency grant further grants will be only made against fresh money raised by the hospitals, means that they cannot reckon, for the purposes of obtaining assistance, any ordinary revenue which they may receive in the current years; and whether, since this condition would prejudicially affect the poorer hospitals, which have practically tapped all sources of income and which now see, at all events for the 388 present, no further new sources of revenue in sight, he will, in the interests of these poorer hospitals, investigate the operation of this condition?
§ Sir A. MONDThe amount by which the income of a hospital for 1921 exceeds the income for 1920 will be reckoned as new money for the purpose of calculating the grant. In cases where the hospitals of a given area agree to combine for this purpose, their aggregate income can be made the basis for calculating new money. As regards the second part of the question, I understand that King Edward's Fund are proposing to confer with the London hospitals as to the best method of raising their share of the anticipated deficit on the year's working.
§ Mr. LYLECan the right hon. Gentleman tell us how much of this money will be distributed this year; is he aware that this grant was made to meet an immediate necessity; and can he say that the money will not be spread over, at any rate, two years?
§ Sir A. MONDI should want notice of the first part of the hon. Member's question. The money will be allocated as soon as practicable, and, I hope, very shortly.
Rear-Admiral Sir R. HALLCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is a fact that the Charing Cross Hospital is entirely self-supporting by good administration?
§ Sir A. MONDI could not give an answer to that, but I hope it is the case.