§ 21. Mr. MARDY JONESasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the objections which are being taken in Wales to the reduction in the status of the Welsh Board of Health; and will be give the reasons for the policy adopted?
§ 22. Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Health whether he has any intention of appointing a chairman of the Welsh Board of Health at any time in future?
§ 24. Mr. JOHNasked the Minister of Health who is the present member for Wales on the National Health Insurance Joint Committee; who will be the member in future; and whether Mr. John Rowland, a member of the Welsh Board of Health, is to act as deputy for him?
§ 26. Mr. ERNEST EVANSasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the proposed changes in the status of the Welsh Board of Health are the subject of disapproval in Wales; and whether he will take early steps to restore the offices of chairman and secretary, and to secure for the Board proper representation on the joint consultative committee?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe reasons for the new arrangements were fully stated in the answer given to the hon. Member for Cardiff East (Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke) on the 25th instant. I am aware that objections lave been raised to these arrangements. These objections seem to me to a large extent based on misunderstandings, and I must in particular demur to the suggestion that the status of the Board has been lowered. I do not anticipate that there will be any need for the appointment of a chairman or a secretary in the future. The present member of the National Health Insurance Joint Committee appointed by me under Section 88 of the National Health Insurance Act, 1924, as
a person having special knowledge and experience of National Health Insurance in Wales,683 is the hon. Member for Monmouth (Sir L. Forestier-Walker), and I do not propose to make any change. I have appointed Mr. John Rowland to succeed Sir Thomas Hughes as deputy to the hon. Member for Monmouth at meetings of the Committee at which the hon. Member is unable to be present.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESAre we to understand that in future there will be no chairman or secretary of the Welsh Board of Health; and, if that be so, does not the right hon. Gentleman take into account the fact that this Board was established in recognition of the claims of Wales to administer its health affairs from a Welsh point of view and in accordance with the desires of the Welsh people; and is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that considerable resentment has been created throughout the length and breadth of Wales by his action in this matter, and that in Wales this is regarded as a national insult?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIn reply to the first part of the hon. Member's supplementary question, I have already dealt with that point in the answer which I have given. In reply to the second part, I do not agree that there is any alteration in the status or functions of the Welsh Board of Health, which will in future, as in the past, carry on the work rather in its individual capacity than in its collective capacity. As to the resentment which has been stirred up by various people in Wales, I am not aware that that extends over the length and breadth of the country, and I think that, if the facts were more fully understood, any resentment that may have been felt would be at once dissipated.
§ Mr. CHARLES EDWARDSWill the Minister receive a deputation from the Welsh Members to discuss this matter?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir; I never refuse to receive a deputation from any of my colleagues in this House.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESCan this body, by any stretch of imagination, be regarded as a Board if in future it is not to have either a chairman or a secretary?
§ Mr. MARDY JONESIs it not the case that, when this Board was originally established by Act of Parliament, it was so established in recognition of the claim of Wales to have its health affairs administered by a Board national in outlook, with a chairman; and how, without a chairman, can this Board be responsible to Wales as a nation?
§ Mr. MARDY JONESMay I ask what is the right hon. Gentleman's authority for his denial of my statement that, as is on the records of the House, this Board was so established in recognition of the claim of Wales to deal with its own health affairs in that way?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI did not deny that; what I denied was that the Act which set up the Board provided for the appointment of a chairman, and I still maintain that.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESIf that be admitted, how does the Board function as a national body without a chairman and without a responsible head? In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply that has been given, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House.
§ 23. Mr. JOHN WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health whether he can make any statement to the House on the future constitution of the Welsh Board of Health; whether it is proposed permanently to reduce that body to three; and if he will state what the number of the body was when originally set up?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe Welsh Board of Health consisted of three members when it was originally constituted. At a later date the administrative officer for public health became an ex-officio member of the Board. With regard to the first and second parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, East (Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke) on the 25th instant.
Lieut.-Colonel WATTS-MORGANDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think, as it has been found necessary to appoint a chairman and secretary, that that ought to continue?