§ 42. Mr. LOVAT-FRASERasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Bedford County Council have dispensed with several cottage homes for Poor Law children and collected them into Briar Patch House; that the county council have enlarged Briar Patch House against the recommendation of the Hitchin Guardians Committee, and that the chairman of the committee resigned in consequence; and if he approves of the policy of removing children from cottage homes into large buildings?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As to the second part, my right hon. Friend is aware that the Hertfordshire County Council are improving the children's home known as "Briar Patch," but no increase in the number of children 1584 to be accommodated is involved, and the last part of the question does not, therefore, arise. My right hon. Friend has no knowledge of any disagreement on the part of any guardians committee.