§ 84 and 86. Mr. ADAMSONasked the Minister of Health (1) whether he has had his attention drawn to the report of the medical officer of Brownhills, Staffordshire, in which he records an infantile mortality rate of 72.7 per 1,000 births; and whether he will take steps to assist the authority in reducing this abnormal rate of mortality;
(2) whether he has noted the medical officer's report for the rural district of Shifnal, Salop, which shows an infantile mortality rate of 73 per 1,000 births; and whether he proposes to inaugurate special measures to overcome this high rate in this and similar districts?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREMy right hon. Friend's attention has been drawn to the information contained in the two reports to which the hon. Member refers. The Staffordshire County Council are responsible for the maternity and child welfare work in Brownhills, and the Salop County Council for that work in the Shifnal Rural District. The maternity and child welfare work of the local authorities is kept under careful review by my Department, and the officers of my Department are prepared at all times to afford advice or assistance to the authorities in respect of this work.
§ Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHSIs not the Shropshire County Council overwhelmingly Tory?