§ 57. Dr. Morganasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the West Ham Borough Council have not yet implemented the recommendations of the National Joint Council for Staffs of Hospitals and Allied Institutions (Domestic and Manual Workers), Mental Hospital Recommendations; that the staff of the West Ham Mental Hospital are dissatisfied at the delay, and are threatening to 1780 go on strike immediately; and whether, having regard to the risk of discomfort to the patients in this institution, and the resentment of the institution staff, he proposes to take any action on, or have any inquiry made into, the present position, especially the reasons for the procrastination of the West Ham Council.
§ Mr. IsaacsI understand that West Ham Borough Council have now decided to put into effect these recommendations of the National Joint Council, with retrospective effect from. 1st April, 1946.
§ Dr. MorganMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will accept the thanks of the staff for the very good work done by his officers?
§ Dr. ComynsIn view of the fact that the recommendations of the National Joint Council were submitted to the local authority in October, and such of the recommendations as were not ambiguous were agreed to, and, as the Minister said, are being implemented, is it not the case that the assumption contained in the last part of this Question is a good example of a bad and ill-informed diagnosis?
§ Dr. MorganThe prognosis was a very good one.
§ Mr. IsaacsI am not sure whether this is a question of doctors disagreeing, but I am not going to enter into that argument.