§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view of the substantial financial loss incurred by some hospitals and other public institutions through pilfering, despite vigilant supervision and the activity of security officers, whether any estimate has been made of the probable total cost of this loss, particularly to the hospital service; and whether Regional Hospital Boards have considered means by which this malpractice can be discouraged as a serious offence that causes embarrassment and indignation among the vast majority of the staffs serving the hospitals.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)My Lords, discovered losses and deficiencies of cash, goods, equipment and stores in the hospital service from all causes amounted in 1966–67 in England and Wales to just over £100,000. This was between 0.01 and 0.02 per cent. of the total revenue expenditure of close on £700 million. It included losses by fraud, fire and storekeeping errors as well as by theft. I regret that I have no separate information about losses by theft. Hospital authorities are fully aware of the need to discourage pilfering, and adopt many different ways of doing so.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask whether he appreciates that when he refers to the discovered or discoverable losses, inevitably a much greater amount than seems indicated by that phrase must be lost annually to the 439 hospitals, and indeed to the nation? Is my noble friend further aware that there are some people who assume that it is a less heinous offence to steal from public authorities than from individuals? Would it not be worth while considering the publication of tactfully-worded notices drawing attention to the fact that so much is lost by this means and that this imposes a debt upon all those who try to lead honest lives?
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, it does not follow that the true losses are necessarily in all respects higher than the discovered losses. Some of the storekeeping errors may have been the other way. I fully agree that it is equally heinous to steal from a public authority as to steal from a private one, and the Ministry of Health have in the past issued several circulars about methods of preventing theft. These circulars are about to be consolidated into one, and I will bring the remarks of my noble friend on the subject of posting notices to the attention of my right honourable friend the Minister.
§ BARONESS EMMET OF AMBERLEYMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that this pilfering is far more widespread than is generally realised? I feel that the putting up of notices in hospitals warning staff of the dangers of this sort of habit is rather urgent. A general circular which is sent round is no good at all. This matter has come to my personal notice, and I support the noble Lord in the Question which he has asked.