§ 4 and 5. Sir Gifford Foxasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he can now make a statement as to the result of his consultation with other interested Departments as to the acceptance or refusal of offers of buildings for emergency hospitals in time of war; and whether he will state which these Departments are and who ultimately decides on acceptance or refusal;
(2) whether, in view of the fact that only two of 131 buildings offered for use as emergency hospitals in war have hitherto been inspected, he proposes to order the inspection of the rest of them; and whether it is the intention of the War Office definitely to decide what hospitals shall be used in case of war before hostilities commence?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe limited number of the buildings in question which appear suitable will be inspected. The buildings which, after inspection, are found suitable will be notified to the Ministry of Health or the Department of Health for Scotland and the Office of Works, and, subject to their agreement, will be earmarked. In the case of buildings found not to be suitable for the War Office, the suggestion is made that the offers might be renewed to the Ministry of Health or the Department of Health for Scotland. My hon. Friend will understand that the War Office is providing its own basic requirements for hospital accommodation independently of these offers.
§ Sir G. FoxIs my right hon. Friend aware that in cases where it has been asked that buildings offered for use as auxiliary military hospitals should be inspected, people have been told by some- 1527 one in his Department that there will not be any inspection until an emergency arises?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaIf my hon. Friend has any case in mind, perhaps he will be good enough to let me have particulars.