HC Deb 22 July 1946 vol 425 cc1784-6
Mr. Key

I beg to move, in page 1, line 23, after "Act," to insert: or any services provided by local health authorities in their capacity as such authorities. When we were considering the matters on which the Central Council would be in a position to give advice to the Minister, it was stressed that we had perhaps rather restricted, in the present draft, the scope of those inquiries. We have, therefore, determined to ask that it should be extended to cover the services provided by local health authorities, not merely those enumerated in this Bill, but others that they may have in their capacity as health authorities under other Acts, including for instance matters dealing with child life protection, mental deficiency and so on. We think this extension will give full and free scope to the Central Advisory Council to advise the Minister on all matters affecting this health service.

Mr. J. S. C. Reid

This is, in our view, an improvement, but it does leave one small point untouched, which the Minister may think worth considering. The scope of the Central Council now includes services provided under this Measure and services provided by local authorities, hut, as we go on, we hope that there will be questions arising about the possibility of providing new services. It seems a pity to limit the Central Council from considering those matters, and I suggest that when the Bill goes to another place, the Minister might consider widening this provision so as to set the Central Advisory Council free to consider, not only the services provided now, but new services, not provided by anybody as yet.

Mr. Key

The Clause at the present time relates to "services provided under this Act." If these services are extended as a result of developments, then it will be open to the Central Advisory Council to give advice on the extended services.

Mr. Reid

I am talking about new services. This Bill does not contemplate, at this moment, new services that may grow up owing to the development of medicine. This Bill may not be wide enough to cover them.

Mr. Bevan

I merely rise for the purpose of reinforcing my hon. Friend's point. I do not want any hints to be dropped that Amendments in another place of this character will be welcome. I should imagine that the services provided in the Bill are wide enough in themselves, to provide a sufficient health service, that will cover, practically, any eventuality that may occur in the future, and that, therefore, the Central Council will not be limited at all.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 1, line 25, leave out "they," and insert "the Council."—[Mr. Key.]

Mr. Key

I beg to move, in page 2, line 6, to leave out "provided under this Act," and to insert "aforesaid."

This extends the functions of the standing advisory committees in a similar manner to those of the Central Council.

Amendment agreed to.

Mr. Key

I beg to move, in page 2, line 14, at the end, to insert: (4) It shall be the duty of a standing advisory committee constituted under this Section to advise the Minister and the Central Council upon such matters relating to the services with which the committee are concerned as they think fit and upon any questions referred to them by the Minister or Central Council relating to those services, and, if the committee advise the Minister upon any matter, they shall inform the Central Council, who may express their views thereon to the Minister. This Amendment meets the point made in Committee upstairs, where the objection was raised that the advisory committees set up under the Central Council would give their advice directly to the Minister, by-passing, as it were, the Central Council. This makes provision that the Central Council shall have the opportunity of reviewing and commenting upon, whatever advice is given to the Minister by the advisory committees.

Amendment agreed to.