§ Mr. Hutchinsonasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the difficulty in obtaining domestic assistance in cases of sickness and accidents, especially in case where members of households are absent on service, he will consider extending the existing arrangements under which local authorities are authorised to provide home helps, in maternity cases, to all case of sickness and accidents?
§ Mr. E. BrownIt is within the discretion of the local Welfare Authorities to make the service to which my hon. and learned Friend refers available to such cases affecting the welfare of mothers and young children as local circumstances may suggest. As my hon. and learned Friend will be aware, the main limitation on the scope of the service is imposed by the number of women who are at the present time available for the wide range of domestic work in public services as a whole. I am at present considering the matter in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service.