HC Deb 02 October 1941 vol 374 cc691-3
13. Sir Francis Fremantle

asked the Minister of Labour whether the rehabilitation scheme announced in August as under consideration has yet come into effect; and what part of the Ministries of Health and Pensions have played, and will play, in its preparation and working?

21. Mr. Martin

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make any statement with regard to the development of his plans for the rehabilitation of workers invalided from the various services back into industrial life; how many men discharged as unfit have received or are receiving training; and how many have so far been restored to normal industrial activities?

Mr. Bevin

As stated in answer to the hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. Dobbie) on nth September, the interviewing of disabled persons in hospital has already been started by my Department. This has been undertaken in co-operation with the various Departments concerned and the hospital authorities. A leaflet describing the interim scheme for the resettlement and training of disabled persons has been prepared and as soon as this is ready for issue I will make a public announcement. In regard to the second part of the Question of the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Martin), I regret that no such statistics are available.

Sir F. Fremantle

Is my right hon. Friend assured that the: duty of seeing rehabilitation methods employed during treatment in hospital is being carried out so as to lessen the work of doing it after workers have left the hospitals?

Mr. Bevin

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the publication of the interim scheme, and I would also emphasise the fact that it is an interim scheme. We are consulting with my right hon. Friends of other Departments in order to develop the thing into a wider and more national and fixed scheme.

Mr. James Griffiths

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the large number of men in the area where I live who are disabled by silicosis will be brought under the aegis of this scheme?

Mr. Bevin

In the interim scheme the guiding principle will be as to whether they can be made fit for the purposes of other war work. But I am afraid that the wider question must wait for the wider scheme after further discussion with my colleagues.

29. Mr. Martin

asked the Minister of Health whether he can make any statement on the progress of the schemes for the recuperation, training and rehabilitation of persons injured in the defence, fighting and production services; and how many persons have so far been treated under these schemes, and with what measure of success?

The Minister of Health (Mr. Ernest Brown)

I am sending my hon. Friend copies of the circulars which have been sent to hospital authorities, setting out the arrangements for the treatment and rehabilitation and for securing the subsequent training of fractures cases, including persons injured in the defence, fighting and production services. Numbers of patients have been successfully treated at centres which have already been in operation for some time, but detailed figures are not available.

Mr. Martin

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion of the total number awaiting treatment have been treated?

Mr. Brown

No, Sir, I could not.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Is the Minister satisfied that there is the fullest possible co-operation between all Government Departments affected in this matter, and are steps being taken to get voluntary institutions to co-operate?

Mr. Brown

Undoubtedly, and I am doing the best I can on my side to make sure that there is an increase in the facilities concerned. The hon. Gentleman and the House will understand, however, that it is not merely a question of facilities but of skilled treatment too.

45. Mr. Martin

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether, in view of the large number of persons hurt, disabled or discharged in respect of the different services, including Civil Defence and production, he will consider the rapid development of the clinical and training schemes for their benefit into a comprehensive service, including a State medical service, on a permanent basis?

The Minister without Portfolio (Mr. Arthur Greenwood)

In regard to the development of clinical and training schemes in present circumstances, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers to his Questions Nos. 21 and 29 to my right hon. Friends the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Health respectively. The Government are giving close consideration to the question of the development of the existing arrangements for the rehabilitation, training and resettlement of disabled persons with a view to framing a comprehensive scheme to meet conditions after the war.