§ 32. Mr. John Fosterasked the Minister of Health why a Pickford's van was sent to the Northwich Victoria Infirmary by the North and Mid-Cheshire Hospital Management Committee on 1st July, 1949, to take away, without any notification to the matron, a conference table and 25 chairs, worth about £200, the gift of Colonel Saner to the Infirmary, a desk, the gift of Mr. H. Southerton, worth £60, and a table worth £30, the gift of Miss Saner; why a bill for £6 for removing this furniture was presented to the Infirmary authorities; and whether he will instruct the Committee to return this furniture and to apologise to the donors and to the Infirmary for their action.
§ Mr. BevanThis is entirely a matter for the management committee, who required the equipment at another hospital in the same group and who fully informed the donor of their intentions.
§ Mr. FosterIs the Minister aware that neither Mr. Southerton nor Miss Saner was informed of this? How does he justify the rendering of a bill of £6 to the hospital, from where the furniture had been taken?
§ Mr. BevanThe facts given to me conflict with the facts given to the hon. Member. Colonel Saner raised no 647 objection. The desk was given by Mr. Southerton and the table by Miss Saner and they are used by the same officer who used them at the Northwich Infirmary. The bill for the removal was paid by the management committee, who are making the best use of available furniture and thus avoiding unnecessary expenditure.
§ Mr. FosterI asked the Minister why the bill was presented, not by whom it was paid. Did Mr. Southerton and Miss Saner agree?
§ Mr. BevanAll I can say is that I will make further inquiries, but the facts given to the hon. Member disagree with the facts given to me. I should have thought, speaking generally and not about this particular incident, that it is far better that furniture should be economically used than that it should be tied up merely because it happens to be a bequest.