HC Deb 20 July 1970 vol 804 cc7-8W
74. Mr. Carter

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the closure of the Radiological Protection Service, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Mr. Alison

As hon. Members will know, the Radiological Protection Act was passed in the last Session of Parliament. This Act provides for the setting up of a board responsible for providing advice and services in the field of radiological protection. An advisory group was established by the previous Government to review the current organisation of radiological protection services and to make recommendations to the Radiological Protection Board when the board is set up.

The Advisory Group has concluded that if the board decides in due course to place its headquarters at Harwell, then the services now provided from the Birmingham Radiological Protection Centre should be provided from Harwell. The

City of Gloucester Number employed Average for English County Boroughs per 1,000 population
(Whole-time equivalent) (Per 1,000 population)
Home helps 54.5 0.59 0.66
Health visitors 8.4 0.09 0.11
Home nurses 18.0 0.19 0.17
Domiciliary midwives 8.5 0.09 0.10
Social workers 12.64 0.14 0.15

staff associations which are concerned have been informed of this conclusion and have been invited to discuss the implications of it with representatives of the advisory group, on an informal basis. The staff concerned have also been informed by the Medical Research Council and the Atomic Energy Authority, which are their present employers. This action has been taken in the best interests of the staff themselves.