3. Miss WARDasked the Minister of Labour to which towns the special grant supplied by the Commissioner for the supplying of special foods for expectant mothers has been allocated; and on what basis the selection was made?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI am informed that the Commissioner for the Special Areas (England and Wales) has recently decided to make a grant of £3,000 to the National Birthday Trust Fund to enable them to extend their scheme for 528 the distribution of special foodstuffs to expectant mothers; and with that assistance, I understand that the fund have agreed to operate the scheme in the county boroughs of Gateshead, Merthyr Tydfil, South Shields and Sunderland, and the Special Areas of Monmouthshire. The selection was made in consultation with the National Birthday Trust Fund having regard to the facilities available and the extent of arrangements already made.
Miss WARDIf these experiments are successful from the point of view of helping the mothers, will the scheme be extended to other towns?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI think that it has always been an understood thing that the operations of the Commissioner in the Special Areas are experimental, and no limit has ever been laid down as to what will be done if the experiments are successful.
Miss WARDThen there is no reason why the schemes should not be immediately extended to other towns in a similar position?
4. Miss WARDasked the Minister of Labour whether any early decision may be expected from the Commissioner for Special Areas with regard to the proposal to establish medical comforts depots in the Special Areas which has been submitted to him by the National Council of Social Service.
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI am informed that the Commissioner for the Special Areas (England and Wales) has carefully considered this scheme and feels that there may be some danger of overlapping with existing organisations. He has, therefore, requested the council to reconsider the position, in consultation with the district nursing associations, with a view to securing their co-operation in the administration of a scheme on somewhat different lines. I understand that the Commissioner is prepared to make a grant towards the cost of a modified scheme.
Miss WARDWill my right hon. Friend say whether the decision will be long delayed in view of the fact that there has been a considerable delay before this announcement was made?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI have nothing further to add to the reply.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs not the work of the Commissioner rather to provide work in those areas than to dole out charity?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThe work of the Commissioner embraces all the activities of the Special Areas. A great deal of his work has been to improve the conditions of those areas.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there is a rapidly growing opinion in those areas that as long as this method of charity is continued there will be no work found in the areas?
Mr. J. J. DAVIDSONWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman make representations to his chief to examine the medical scheme of the Glasgow Labour majority?
§ 5. Mr. STOREYasked the Minister of Labour whether any decision has yet been taken upon the land reclamation scheme submitted to the Commissioner for the Special Areas by the River Wear Commission?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADNo. Sir, but I understand that the Commissioner for Special Areas will shortly open negotiations with the interested parties?