HC Deb 11 July 1960 vol 626 cc969-70
19. Mr. K. Lewis

asked the Minister of Health how many representatives of the National Health Service will attend the International Hospital Federation Study Tour in the United States of America in September, 1960; how many of these representatives are being sent by Regional Hospital Boards and how many by Hospital Management Committees; and what is the cost to public funds or hospital free moneys.

Mr. Walker-Smith

Forty-one for England and Wales. Thirteen are being sent by regional hospital boards, 13 by hospital management committees, and 15 by boards of governors. The cost will be about£1,100 to Exchequer funds and about£10,800 to non-Exchequer funds.

Mr. K. Lewis

I realise that these things are arranged through regional boards and management committees, but is the Minister not rather afraid that this might be the most expensive study tour since Caesar went to woo Cleopatra with all the support of the army medical corps and the apothecary services at that time? Does he not think that some control should be placed on these conferences, which are now inclined to be getting out of hand?

Mr. Walker-Smith

I rather think it was Antony, who had a larger establishment than Caesar, who was a very young man, as my hon. Friend will remember, when he had his relationships. Also, of course, it is necessary to consider the change in the value of money over the 2,000 years or so. I would not like to give a precise answer, but I assure my hon. Friend that this will be a very worth-while exercise. I think that the people who go will have much that they can learn with profit from what they will hear and see.

Dr. Summerskill

I thoroughly approve of the visit, but is the House to understand that legacies which have been left to hospitals by people who believed that their legacies would improve conditions in the hospitals and add to the amenities and so on will be used for this purpose?

Mr. Walker-Smith

The use of non-Exchequer funds is a matter for the individual hospital authority. It holds them as trustee and can use the funds as it thinks fit, subject to any specific trust, for any purposes which relate to hospital services.