§ 3. Mr. MacArthurasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement about his proposals for the reorganisation of the health services in Scotland.
§ Mr. RossI am not yet in a position to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Gentleman on 22nd October.—[Vol. 788, c. 269–70.]
§ Mr. MacArthurIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a further statement 1285 on this important question is anxiously awaited? Does he agree that any reorganisation of the Health Service depends very much on the morale of those it employs? Would he therefore consider making an early statement about the problems confronting the nursing profession in Scotland?
§ Mr. RossThat is a separate problem. I have received a telegram from certain nurses, to which I have sent a reply. On the main point, no recommendation was made by the Wheatley Commission, which left the Government to decide on the National Health Service in its local authority aspects. It is only right that we should wait until we have received all the comments and then make up our minds. I cannot promise an early statement.