§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what actions he has taken as a result of Colonel Templer's criticism of medical services in the Falklands.
§ Mr. StanleyAs I indicated to the hon. Member in my reply on 13 June 1984, at column490, Colonel Templer was expressing his own views in his radio interview on 5 June. Medical services in the Falklands generally are the responsibility of the civil administration and are therefore a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary.
During my visit to the Falklands last July, Colonel Templer expressed concern about the adequacy of the temporary operating facilities at the British Military Hospital, Port Stanley. The Commander British Forces commissioned an immediate inspection of the facilities by the Director of Army Surgery who validated an earlier decision to provide as a high priority a new temporary operating theatre. This theatre is currently in transit to the Falklands and is due to come into use next month.