§ 45. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Health if he will consider, for the benefit of members of the staffs of sanatoria and hospitals in country districts where cars are essential, the provision of garages free of charge.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Derek Walker-Smith)No, Sir. I can see no justification for this.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs it not wrong to penalise members of medical and nursing staffs who are willing to serve in remote country districts, where cars are absolutely essential? Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman deny that cars 28 are essential in the kind of circumstances to which I have drawn his attention, and, if not, would it not be wise to provide them as part of the service, instead of the Minister increasing the garage rent by 400 per cent. as has been done recently?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe hon. Gentleman talks about an increase of rent of 400 per cent. He will appreciate that this was originally a nominal rent and that it is now no more than an economic rent, I do not think it is suitable to have a system of preferences and perquisites. The plain fact is that there can be very few workers on a hospital staff who have not received substantial increases of pay during the last two years.