§ 55. Mr. HICKSasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the maternity and child welfare centre in Cumming Street, Finsbury, has been given up, and the municipal midwifery scheme has been abolished on grounds of economy; and whether, in view of his pledges to set the maternal mortality rate in the forefront of national health services, he will inquire into this reduction of the services of Finsbury?
Sir H. YOUNGI am informed that the facts are that early last year the borough council decided not to proceed with the erection of a proposed maternity and child welfare centre, and to substitute for the services of the municipal midwives a midwifery service provided by arrangement with the hospitals and nursing associations which serve the borough. I am not aware that there has been any reduction of maternity and child welfare services in this borough, but I have arranged that 1170 in ordinary course a review should be made of the working of the midwifery scheme recently instituted.