HC Deb 22 July 1954 vol 530 cc1533-5
1. Mr. Watkins

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received the Report of the public local inquiry into the incidence of tuberculosis at Talgarth, Breconshire; and whether he will make a statement.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Iain Macleod)

I am examining this Report and will write to the authorities concerned as soon as possible.

Mr. Watkins

Would the Minister be good enough to expedite the decision on this Report, because we are going into Recess, I hope, at the end of next week, and I should like the local authorities to have a decision about this inquiry?

Mr. Macleod

I shall do it as quickly as I possibly can. There are one or two other Ministries to be consulted, but there will be no delay.

11. Mrs. Slater

asked the Minister of Health how soon he is likely to sanction schemes for the establishment of sheltered industry for the rehabilitation of tuberculous patients, outside existing tuberculous colonies.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Patricia Hornsby-Smith)

Such schemes have to be considered in relation to other expenditure under the National Health Service and my right hon. Friend cannot offer any general approval. He will, however, consider any individual scheme which is put to him.

Dr. Stross

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that some areas are more distressed by this problem than others because of the high incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis? In her consideration of any scheme, will that fact be borne in mind, especially in a place like Stoke-on-Trent?

Miss Hornsby-Smith

I understand that Stoke-on-Trent has been making inquiries. While, in the present financial position it was thought that immediate approval was unlikely, we asked the council for further information of what its schemes were.

13. Mrs. Slater

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have occupational therapy centres, other than in hospitals or settlements, for tuberculous patients.

Miss Hornsby-Smith

According to the annual reports of Medical Officers of Health for 1952, occupational therapy was provided by 11 local health authorities at centres or clinics and by 44 authorities at patients' homes.

30. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make mandatory the recommendations of his Circular 32/51; and how many local authorities have submitted schemes for the employment of tubercular patients.

Miss Hornsby-Smith

My right hon. Friend does not feel that it is opportune to make mandatory the submission of schemes by local authorities under Section 29 of the National Assistance Act, 1948. No authorities have submitted proposals for the employment of the tuberculous under National Assistance Act powers, but four authorities provide employment directly under the National Health Service Act and others use facilities offered by voluntary organisations.

Dr. Stross

Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that whereas we all accept that the medical officer of health and the chest physician are the people who know best what sort of work is suitable for the tuberculous patient who has treatment, after they have come to a decision work is not necessarily available? Will the hon. Lady ask her right hon. Friend to consult his colleague the Minister of Labour to see whether industry can absorb these 20,000 or 30,000 people in the way that other handicapped people are absorbed by industry?

Miss Hornsby-Smith

The response to the invitation to submit schemes for improving the welfare and employment of the handicapped is going ahead and is under the close attention of my right hon. Friend and his colleagues.