§ 5. Mr. Gibson-Wattasked the Minister of Health to what extent local authority ambulances are used for conveying patients to regional hopsitals outside the boundaries of the local authorities concerned.
§ Mr. SnowStatistics about this are not available, but most ambulance authorities have arrangements with their neighbours for mutual assistance in emergencies.
§ Mr. Gibson-WattThat is very much what I feared. Can the hon. Gentleman say what steps the Ministry intends to take in order to arrive at an equitable arrangement for all ratepayers who are affected by this scheme?
§ Mr. SnowSurely the interest of the patients rather than that of the ratepayers is the most serious consideration here. If the hon. Gentleman has in mind particular cases about which he is concerned, perhaps he will let me have the details.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanHas the hon. Gentleman any information on the extent to which ambulances are used when all that is required is a conveyance for the patient and not necessarily an ambulance?
§ 10. Mr. Gibson-Wattasked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take on the recommendation of the Working Party on Ambulance Training Equipment, Part 2, concerning the colour of ambulances.
§ Mr. SnowMy right hon. Friend has obtained the views of interested bodies on the Report as a whole, and he is discussing with the local authority associations how far its recommendations should be implemented.
§ Mr. Gibson-WattI thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. The Report recommended that, eventually, all ambulances should be painted white or cream. In the interests of public safety, will the 230 hon. Gentleman give some intimation of the Ministry's policy.
§ Mr. SnowMy right hon. Friend is considering this recommendation and I cannot commit him at the moment. Broadly speaking, the hon. Gentleman is right. Recalling the words of Henry Ford, the conclusion was that it did not matter what colour it was as long as it was white.