§ 53. Dr. Edith Summerskillasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that owing to financial difficulties the Pioneer Health Centre, Peckham, will be forced to close unless help is forthcoming; and will he take action accordingly?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Kenneth Lindsay)The Board are fully aware of the valuable pioneer work done at this centre and of the difficulties it is at present encountering. My Noble Friend has recently considered whether there was any possibility of securing for it public financial support. The only means of doing this under the Education Act would be by way of a grant from the London County Council to the centre as a community centre. If the Council were to incur expenditure for this purpose it would attract grant from the Board at the rate of 50 per cent.
§ Dr. SummerskillWill the hon. Member consider acting as an intermediary between the London County Council and this health centre, because discussions have already taken place, but, unfortunately, no practical scheme has emerged, and the committee this week have decided that if no scheme is forthcoming they will have to close on 5th June?
§ Mr. LindsayI think it would be a little difficult for me to act as an intermediary, but I do say that we should view with great apprehension the closing down of this excellent work which has been going on.
Captain CazaletDoes the hon. Member not think that it would be a national loss, quite apart from the loss locally, if this great research institution were closed down?
Viscountess AstorWould it not be better for the Government to put a little more money into this institution and less into the wheat subsidy?
§ Mr. LindsayIn our view it is valuable research work which is going on in this centre, and I hope that some means will be found of support from outside. All I can say is that we shall do all we can.
§ Mr. Charles WilliamsAre we to understand that the London County Council, as usual, is the real trouble?