§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether he will cause the method of disbursement of funds by local emergency committees to be supervised so as to ensure that they are strictly applied for the purposes for which they were intended; and, in particular, not for the maintenance of so-called sick-bays, which are, in effect, empty houses or premises or clinics or first-aid posts used for normal public health cases?
§ Mr. ElliotWith regard to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, I would refer him to the reply given to him on1146W 12th December last. With regard to the second part, sick bays are intended only for minor ailments which would ordinarily be nursed at home, but which it is not reasonable to expect a housewife to nurse in the case of children billeted on her. The cost of maintenance of sick-bays is a charge on the responsible local authority.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health in how many cases has the cost of inoculating children against diphtheria been charged against, and paid out of, the funds given to local emergency committees for the treatment of unaccompanied evacuated children; whether he will take steps to have moneys so expended refunded by the local authorities concerned, so that they can be devoted to the purposes for which they were intended; and whether he will consider changing the procedure and instituting a more satisfactory scheme administered by his Department, or by insurance committees, or local authorities?
§ Mr. ElliotI am not aware that the cost of inoculation against diphtheria has in any case been charged against the funds available for the medical treatment of unaccompanied evacuated children. Normally the material for inoculation is supplied by the local authority, and in the case of evacuated children the cost may be charged against the evacuation account. With reference to the last part of the Question, I do not consider any change in the present arrangements to be necessary.