57. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the health campaign to be inaugurated in the autumn, he will ascertain the adequacy of the services provided by individual local authorities?
§ Sir K. WoodThe surveys of the health services of individual local authorities which are conducted by the medical officers of my Department, and which have been in progress since 1930, afford an opportunity for ascertaining the adequacy of these services, and as my hon. 1478 Friend is aware, it is my practice to bring to the notice of the local authorities any improvements in their health services which appear to be desirable and to make appropriate recommendations.
Miss WardIs the campaign that is to be inaugurated to be on the highest standard or on the lowest standard, and if it is to be on the highest standard, may I ask what is to happen to those people who want to take advantage of the health services which are advertised on the highest standard when they find that they are not available owing to non-provision by their own local authorities?
§ Sir K. WoodIn regard to the first part of the question, naturally anything associated with the Ministry of Health will be on the highest standard.
§ Sir K. WoodIf the hon. Lady has any particular case in mind, I shall be glad to take it up, but I think that generally speaking the local authorities are carrying out their duties as we would desire.
Mr. J. J. DavidsonWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that any health campaign is doomed to failure until the Government bring into that health campaign those people who are suffering from malnutrition?
59. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Health whether he will consider issuing a detailed summary of the services available under the various Health Acts and the names of the local authorities operating the equivalent provisions?
§ Sir K. WoodIt is the practice of many local authorities to publish particulars of the health services available in their areas, and I am hoping shortly to arrange with my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General for information of this kind to be made available at Post Offices. I anticipate that this information will become widely known through the agency of the local authorities in connection with the forthcoming health campaign.
Miss WardWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for what he is going to do, when that information is available will he see that there are comparable services on the part of all local authorities?
§ Sir K. WoodI keep asking my hon. Friend to give me particulars of any case she has in mind, and I will take it up.
Miss WardDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that I have raised this matter in a speech, but that I have never yet really been able to get all the details of all the local authorities?