§ 16. Mr. A. C. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far the Scottish regional hospitals boards will be permitted to tender supplementary estimates to cover the increased cost of food arising from the reduction in the food subsidies.
Commander GalbraithThe approved budgets of regional hospital boards allow some margin for rising prices.
§ Mr. ManuelIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the Scottish regional hospital boards now have a very strict method of audit, which will not allow them to go much beyond their estimates and budget figures agreed upon by the Department and the regional hospital boards; and that, if there is not more flexibility in this position, it will mean that patients are going to have a worse diet and less food than they had under the budget figures?
§ Mr. WoodburnWould the hon. and gallant Gentleman assure us that the allegations made—that, already, some of the economies in hospital expenditure have been carried out at the expense of cutting down the food supplies—are unfounded, and that he will give no support to the suggestion that the food of patients especially should be reduced in order to accomplish any cuts in hospital expenditure?
Commander GalbraithIf such statements are made, they are completely and absolutely unfounded. There is no truth in them at all.