55 and 56. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Health (1) whether, in view of several decisions not to recommend to the Ministry of Labour the deferment for national service of domestic staff, it is his policy to close down private nursing homes;
(2) whether, in view of his decision that there are too many private nursing homes in Newcastle-on-Tyne, he will give a list of other towns which he considers are in a similar position?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe fact that applications for deferment in individual cases are not invariably supported by my Department does not justify the conclusion which the hon. Lady has drawn. Individual applications must be considered on their merits.
Miss WardMay I have a reply to the second Question, and will the Minister give a direct answer to the Question whether he wishes to reduce the number of nursing homes?
Miss WardHas the Minister considered that as a matter of general policy, for instance, in Newcastle-on-Tyne, or does he deal with every individual case as it turns up?
§ this disease for the County of Durham (administrative county and county boroughs combined) are as follow:
§ hospitals or anywhere else, are judged on their merits. That is the only way to deal with the matter in order to draw a fair line between the various demands for manpower.
Miss WardOwing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.