§ 29. Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the confusion in the public mind created by the fact that the Board of Control, previously located independently, has now an identical address with the Ministry of Health; and if he will arrange for adequate recognition of the separate existence of the board as an independent body.
§ Mr. TurtonI think that the separate existence of the board as an independent body is widely recognised. It is convenient for administration that the Ministry and the board should be in the same building.
§ Dr. JohnsonMay I, none the less, ask my right hon. Friend if he can make it quite clear that the functions of the Board of Control are to protect the liberty of the subject and—at the risk of repeating what the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) has already said this afternoon—whether he is aware that, admirably intentioned though the board may be, it has in fact given the impression in recent times that it is both lethargic and inefficient in dealing with matters related to the individual and in reply to individual communications addressed to it?
§ Mr. TurtonI can assure my hon. Friend that proximity to me does not induce lethargy or inefficiency.
§ 30. Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the telephone number of the Board of Control is not in the London Telephone Directory; and if he will make arrangements for the appropriate insertion to be made.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithYes, Sir.
§ Dr. JohnsonMay I thank my hon. Friend for removing at least one obstacle to the normal access to the Board of Control?