§ 34. Captain FRASERasked the Minister of Health if he will give the names of any Metropolitan boroughs in which artificial sunlight treatment has been introduced in a maternity and child welfare centre or centres; and what contribution, if any, his Department has made towards the cost of artificial sunlight equipment and/or of the first year's running expenses in connection with this treatment?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)According to the information in the possession of my right hon. Friend's Department, provision has been made for artificial light treatment at., or in connection with, maternity and 807 child welfare centres in the following Metropolitan boroughs: Bethnal Green, Deptford, Greenwich, Hackney, Islington, Kensington, Poplar, St. Marylebone, St. Pancras, Shoreditch, Southwark, Stepney, and Westminster.
In those cases in which the prior approval of my right hon. Friend's Department was obtained to the arrangements and a, contribution is desired towards the cost the usual grant of 50 per cent. is being paid towards the net cost of the installation and the first year's running expenses.
§ Captain FRASERIs there not a genuine misunderstanding between the borough council of St. Pancras and the Ministry whether or not prior approval had been obtained in the case of the maternity and child welfare centre in that borough, and will the Minister put a sympathetic interpretation upon that misunderstanding and pay for their equipment and their first year?
§ Sir K. WOODI am not aware of any misunderstanding, but I am prepared to go into the matter again.
§ Mr. HADEN GUESTAs this is a matter of very great public importance, cannot we have a report of the effects of sunlight treatment in the areas where it has been established?
§ Sir K. WOODI will consider that in connection with the Annual Report.