HC Deb 21 April 1947 vol 436 cc620-1

3.45 P.m.

Mr. Westwood

I beg to move, in page 4, line 5, after "cost," to insert: so far as falling to be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament. During the Committee stage, the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Hill head (Mr. J. S. C. Reid) suggested that the wording of Clause 5, which was to the effect that the whole cost of accommodation set aside for fee-paying patients should be covered by the charges to be made to those patients, made it impossible for any endowments which might exist, or might be given in future for the benefit of such patients, to be set off against the total cost in calculating the charges to be made. I do not imagine any existing endowments are likely to be made available for the benefit of this class of persons, but I appreciate that future endowments might be made for this purpose. As a result of close examination of the Clause, I am convinced that there is a real doubt whether endowments can be applied in future in this way. The Amendment removes that doubt, and makes it clear, as I have always intended, that the charges to be paid by the patients are to cover the cost falling to he made out of public funds.

Commander Galbraith (Glasgow, Pollok)

This was a good point which was made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hillhead (Mr. J. S. C. Reid), and the Secretary of State for Scotland has gone as far as possible to meet it.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.