HC Deb 23 April 1923 vol 163 cc65-6W
Mr. AMMON

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that it is not part of the duty of the board of control to fix rates of wages and hours of staffs of mental hospitals, he will arrange that views on these subjects should not be expressed as they were in the eighth annual Report of the board of control?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Under Section 162 of the Lunacy Act, 1890, a duty is imposed upon the board of control to make a Report every year, in which they are required to draw attention to the condition of institutions for lunatics, the care of the patients therein and such other particulars as they think deserving of notice. I see no reason, therefore, why references to hours of duty and rates of wages of the staff should not be included in their Report.

Mr. AMMON

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the advisability of appointing to the board of control on the mental nursing service a representative from the joint conciliation committee of the Mental Asylum Workers' Union and the Mental Hospitals' Association, which represent a great majority of the asylums authorities?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the committee which was appointed by the board of control in March, 1922, to report upon the nursing service in county and borough mental hospitals. This committee hope to report shortly, and the board of control do not consider that at this stage it would be desirable to add to its membership. The joint conciliation committee have already been informed that the nursing committee would be willing to consider a statement of any views which the Mental Hospitals' Association and the National Asylum Workers' Union would desire to put before them.

Mr. AMMON

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the board of control have no legislative power and cannot enforce their recommendations on the visiting committees, he will consider the advisability of abolishing the board of control and transferring its present functions to the Ministry of Health?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The powers of the board of control and their relation to local authorities and to Parliament were fully considered when the board was established, and I do not consider that there are adequate grounds for initiating measures to alter the present arrangements.