§ 10. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Health how soon he expects to be able to approve the plan to install radio-telephone equipment in the ambulances of the Staffordshire Health Authority.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithThe authority has not yet submitted its revised proposals.
§ Mr. SwinglerCan the Parliamentary Secretary say why there is such a great delay and dispute over this matter in view of the greater efficiency and probably greater economy that would be achieved by this improvement of installing radio-telephone devices in the county ambulances? Can she say why so many weeks and even months have passed before some agreed plan could be made?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithStaffordshire is divided into nine areas for administering this local health authority service, and the original proposal involved superimposing the system on those nine separate areas. A deputation was received by the Minister and the whole matter gone into by experts on 21st January, when it was recommended that a four-centre system rather than a nine-centre system would be more applicable. As far as I am aware the deputation appeared to accept that, and we are now waiting its revised proposals. There will be no loss of time when we have received them.