§ 27. Mr. Hutchinsonasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that it is the policy of the Central Midwives Board to require pupil midwives, during the second period of their training, to reside in the homes of district teacher midwives and to permit a limited number of pupils only to reside during this part of their training in an institution; that, as a result, only four pupil midwives can now be trained in the maternity service maintained by the Ilford Borough Council; and whether, in view of the need for training a sufficient number of midwives and the difficulty of arranging for pupils to reside with district teachers, especially under war-time conditions, he will take steps to secure some modification of the present policy?
Mr. BrownI am aware that the policy of the Central Midwives Board is to require pupil midwives to live with their district teacher during a part of their second period of training, so that they may receive the full value of the domiciliary training. The shortage of practising midwives is not due to a shortage of pupils, but to the failure of many qualified midwives to practise. I do not, therefore, think it is necessary to ask the Central Midwives Board to modify their policy.
§ Mr. HutchinsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Ilford Borough Council would be able to train a very much greater number of pupil midwives if they were permitted to reside in the institution instead of with the district teachers?