§ 12. Mrs. Hartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for the latest year for which figures are available, the number of babies born to East Kilbride mothers at home, and in various maternity hospitals and homes in Lanarkshire.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith)In 1961, of 814 babies born to East Kilbride mothers, 256 were born at home, 274 in hospitals in Lanarkshire and 284 in hospitals and nursing homes outside the county.
§ Mrs. HartMay we not have details of the various hospitals and maternity homes within Lanarkshire to which East Kilbride mothers have to travel? Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that many of these places are situated many miles from East Kilbride and that this may involve a husband in the sacrifice of a day's wages in order to visit his wife? Further, is he aware that this is an astonishing reflection on the Government's new hospital building programme if Scotland's biggest new town cannot have a maternity unit for the large numbers of babies born there?
§ Mr. GalbraithIf the hon. Lady wants details of all the hospitals in Lanarkshire to which these mothers go to have their children born, I should be delighted to give them to her, but that is not what she asked for in her Question.