§ 29. Mr. Robert Gibsonasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the success of the new scheme for the collection of contributions for hospitals fund at the Royal Naval Torpedo Factory at Greenock will be imperilled if 5 per cent. or more of the sums collected is used up in expenses by control machinery and deducted from funds receivable by Greenock Royal Infirmary and other local institutions; and whether he will take steps to see that the funds collected locally at Greenock go direct from the torpedo factory to the local hospital institutions without deduction, thereby ensuring that the torpedo factory workers in Greenock receive the maximum benefit from their contributions?
Mr. CooperThe scheme for the collection of contributions to local hospital funds by means of deductions from wages is designed to benefit the maximum num- 1193 ber of institutions and provides for the transmission of the. sums collected to a Committee of the British Hospital Contributory Schemes Association who will undertake the distribution to the appropriate hospital funds. I regret that exceptional treatment cannot be given in the particular case referred to by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. GibsonIs the right hon. Gentleman keeping in mind the fact that he himself expressed the view in this House in answer to a question by me on 21st July last that it was desirable to ensure that hospitals which were of benefit to the Royal Naval Torpedo Factory, Greenock, should have earmarked to them contributions made at Greenock; and will the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter again, so that the men's wishes with regard to the allocation of the fund shall be taken into consideration?
Mr. CooperI am quite prepared to look into the matter again, but I am afraid that it would not be possible to make any exception to the general rule whereby this scheme is run as one scheme covering all the hospitals concerned.