§ 31. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Health what knowledge and experience of the work and management of hospitals is possessed by the members of the Committee that is to inquire into the cost of the Health Service.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAs I informed the House on 1st April, the inquiry is to be independent and objective; the members appointed have, therefore, no direct connection with any part of the Health Service. The Committee will decide their own procedure, but I have no doubt they will wish to take evidence from organisations and individuals with knowledge and experience of the working of the Service.
§ Mr. HastingsDoes not the right hon. Gentleman feel that some knowledge of the work of a hospital is necessary for those whose job it is to assess the value of what is spent on that hospital?
§ Mr. MacleodFrankly, I disagree. If we once start having representatives of hospitals, in any sense of the term, I should have to have representatives of doctors, consultants, dentists, local authorities, opticians and the rest. I wanted this problem to be examined by a committee of five wise men, or four wise men and one wise woman—whatever we like to call it. I think we shall get the best result from that.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopCould the Minister say why he has by-passed the Central Advisory Committee, which is there, surely, to give him advice on this and other matters?
§ Mr. MacleodFor the very reason I have just explained; because the Central Health Services Council is representative 559 of all the interests in the Health Service. For that reason, in my view, it is the wrong body for this kind of inquiry.