§ Brigadier-General CHARTERISasked the Secretary of State for Air the present number of equipped beds in hospitals under the Air Ministry; and the average daily number of patients in these hospitals during the current year?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe answer to the first part of the question is 1,586; to the second, 528. Of the 1,586 equipped beds, 1,139 are in hospitals in Iraq and Palestine which cater for the whole garrisons, i.c., Army as well as Air Force and British as well as Indian troops and, in Palestine, the British Gendarmerie in addition. I may add that it is necessary to provide beds considerably in excess of the average occupation in order to be in a position to cope with epidemics, casualties, seasonal illnesses, and the special conditions under which the forces in the Middle East are serving, but their number is and will continue to be brought under constant review.