§ 43. Mr. Bowdenasked the Minister of Health why Mr. Horace W. Taylor, after serving on the Leicester Executive Committee since its inception, was not re-appointed and has now been replaced.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodBecause it was decided that a more varied representation of interests was desirable. The decision in no way reflected on the excellent services of the retiring member.
§ Mr. BowdenThe right hon. Gentleman has given me that reply before in a letter, but the local Press have concerned themselves with this matter and they feel, as I do, that there may be political prejudice in this, in that Mr. Taylor was a prominent trade unionist. Is that the reason for his dismissal?
§ Mr. MacleodThe hon. Member must know perfectly well that as far as I was concerned I did not know until this moment what Mr. Horace Taylor's politics were, and I do not care either. I am interested only in getting the best people and the most varied interests to serve on these committees.
§ Colonel Stoddart-ScottIs my right hon. Friend aware that of the six Members of Parliament who sit on regional hospital boards, not a single one comes from the party on this side of the House? Is he also aware that the Labour candidate at Ripon in the General Election in 1950, although he was defeated by 10,000 votes, and who had no qualification whatever to sit on a regional hospital board, was appointed to the Leeds Regional Hospital Board for the service that he had rendered to the Labour Party?
§ Mr. BowdenWould the Minister care to state the politics of the lady who has replaced Mr. Taylor?
§ Mr. MacleodI cannot, because I have not the slightest idea. It was the last thing I should inquire into.