§ 21. Mr. PALINGasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Montague Hospital, Mexborough, Yorkshire, have recently erected two medical wards by aid of grants from the miners' welfare fund; that these are not able to be opened owing to the reduction of income through unemployment and bad trade in the five urban districts served by this hospital; and, as there are no medical wards at the present time and thus no adequate medical service, in the circumstances will he sanction the payment by the urban authorities, under the Public Health Act, of the product of a ld. rate to provide a portion of the revenue required until such times as trade improves?
Sir H. YOUNGI have no information as to the first two parts of the question. The third question, however, does not arise, since my sanction would not he required to a payment by the urban authorities of the amount mentioned in the question.
§ Mr. PALINGIs it within the law for money to be spent up to a penny rate by local authorities?
Sir H. YOUNGI cannot give a general answer to that question. It is the case that my sanction would not be required in the present instance.