§ 17. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Essex County Council Public Assistance Com- 379 mittee have been compelled to cease paying amounts of 1s. to 1s. 6d. per week to certain elderly patients in Public Assistance Committee's hospitals; that this has created indignation among members of the Committee and the public; and whether, in view of the ill-effect of the former practice being declared illegal, he will now take steps to enable public bodies to make such payments of small amounts.
§ Mr. WillinkI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 7th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne) and to previous replies on this subject.
§ Mr. SorensenIs it any use to keep on referring back to what was said before? Is there not an urgent need to tackle this question, in view of the experience of the public assistance committees that the payment of these small amounts is distinctly beneficial?
§ Mr. WillinkNo, I cannot agree. The law is quite recent, dating only from 1938, and I do not think that the introduction of legislation at this time would be desirable.
§ Mr. SorensenAm I to understand that the Minister contemplates no action?
§ Mr. WillinkI said nothing of the kind. I said that all these matters were under discussion.
§ Mr. SorensenIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment.
§ 29. Mr. Lipsonasked the Minister of Health, if he will introduce legislation to permit the established practice of paying pocket money in suitable instances to inmates of public institutions below the age of 65 to continue, which would be generally welcomed.
§ Mr. WillinkNo, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given to him on 2nd December, and to other replies on this subject.
§ Mr. LipsonIs my right hon. and learned Friend aware that his attitude on this matter is most disappointing, and will he not, at least, take steps to find out whether legislation of this kind would be non-controversial?
§ Mr. WillinkI have already dealt with that very point, in reply to an earlier Question. It cannot be unsatisfactory that one of my officers should have pointed out what is the law as enacted by Parliament only five years ago.
§ Mr. LipsonMy right hon. and learned Friend has not answered my question whether he will take steps to find out whether such legislation would be non-controversial.
§ Mr. WillinkWhether it would be non-controversial or not, I think it would be most unsatisfactory to deal with it in isolation from the whole issue of social insurance questions now under consideration.
§ Mr. LipsonOwing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Motion for Adjournment.
§ Mr. SorensenOn a point of Order. I have already given notice that I intend to raise a certain matter on the Adjournment. The hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson), apparently, has now given notice that he will raise a similar matter.
§ Mr. LipsonThe point on which I have given notice is the refusal to introduce legislation.