§ 9. Miss Herbisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the money spent by local health authorities on the dental care of nursing and expectant mothers is provided by his Department.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. John Maclay)Local health authorities' expenditure on this service is taken into account in fixing the aggregate amount of general grant payable, but no part of that grant is paid specifically for this or any other particular service.
§ Miss HerbisonDoes not the Minister think that the case of Mrs. Whyte, a constituent of mine, which I have brought before him on two occasions, has been turned down because of the working of the general grant? Is he not aware that my constituent has been very unjustly treated and that possibly the local authority feels that it can do nothing because of the working of the general grant?
§ Mr. MaclayI have explained the circumstances of this case in great detail to the hon. Lady, and, while I have sympathy with her constituent, I have no power to order what she has asked me to do. I cannot see a connection with the general grant in this case.
§ Miss HerbisonThe Minister will be aware that sympathy will not pay the costs which my constituent has had to pay for something which she ought not to have had to pay for at all.
§ Mr. MaclayAs the hon. Lady will have noticed from the letters which I have written to her on this subject, that is a matter for the local authority concerned, and I have no power to deal with it.