HC Deb 13 March 1961 vol 636 cc959-61
11. Mr. Brockway

asked the Minister of Health why he sent a circular to the medical officers of health of local authorities, limiting the supply to expectant mothers and infants of orange juice to two bottles a week, of cod liver oil to one bottle a fortnight, and of vitamin tablets to two packets a month.

Mr. Powell

I have sent no circular to this effect. I am, however, sending the hon. Member a copy of the circular which he may have in mind.

Mr. Brockway

Is the Minister aware that I obtained the information from one of those who said that he was the recipient of this circular? Does he deny that the effect of the circular is on the lines of my Question? Does it not mean that, in addition to the hardship which will be caused by the right hon. Gentleman's new Bill, mothers and others who are entitled to these services will be denied them because they have not fully used the rights which they had before the introduction of the Bill?

Mr. Powell

Oh, no. There is no question at all of people not getting their entitlement.

Mrs. Slater

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the circular which he has sent out has put into operation the effect of the Question? People are now being limited in the amount of the commodities which they can get.

Mr. Powell

No. They will be able to get their full entitlement. Perhaps the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) would like to look at the circular. I will gladly send a copy to the hon. Lady the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Mrs. Slater).

Mr. K. Robinson

Is it not a fact that before the Minister's action a pregnant mother could have a full nine months' supply and draw it at once? Is it not now a fact that she can draw her supply only up to 1st June, possibly a fortnight at a time? Quite apart from the parsimony of this action, is it not improper that the Minister of Health and the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance should have anticipated legislation in that these circulars were sent out before the relative regulations were laid before the House?

Mr. Powell

No. There is no question of people not getting their entitlement.

18. Mr. Redhead

asked the Minister of Health what recent instructions he has given to local health authorities concerning the issue of welfare food coupons to expectant mothers; and what consultations he has had on this matter with the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance.

Mr. Powell

Welfare food coupons are issued on behalf of my Department through the local offices of the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance and not by the local health authorities.

Mr. Redhead

Despite what the right hon. Gentleman said in reply to an earlier Question, does he not appreciate that the instructions which he has issued have had the effect of denying to expectant mothers the right, which they have hitherto enjoyed, of drawing upon their allotment of vitamin foods in any quantity at any time they liked and that the whole purpose of these instructions was to anticipate an Order which was not made until a month late? Does the Minister believe that the negligible saving which he has thus effected was really worth while for this cumbersome administrative machinery? Does he not consider it an incredibly mean thing to do?

Mr. Powell

Certainly not. There is no question of anyone not getting her entitlement in full. If this House should decide to make a humble Prayer to Her Majesty against the requisite Order, nobody will have lost anything.

Mr. K. Robinson

Why is the Minister being so evasive about this? Will he not make it clear to the House that there has been a change and one which is detrimental to expectant mothers in that they are not now able to get what they were able to get before? We can debate this further when we come to pray against the Order, but will not the Minister make that admission now?

Mr. Powell

On the contrary, it would have been quite wrong, if the terms of supply are to be changed from 1st June, for them not to be different for everyone from 1st June.

Mr. Paget

Is not this attempt to economise on prenatal health foods crazy? Is not the Minister aware that any farmer who treated his cows like this would soon be out of business?

Mr. Powell

This has nothing to do with economising.

Mrs. Slater

Why do it if it is not to economise?