Mr. SIMONasked the Minister of Health whether his Department has ever withheld or threatened to withhold grants payable to local authorities in respect of maternity and child welfare work on the ground that medical officers had given information on birth control to women attending the centres; and, if so, under what regulations was this action taken?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part does not therefore arise.
§ Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Health whether he has received a resolution from the South Berkshire Women's Unionist Association, asking him to give careful consideration to the desirability of authorising certificated midwives to give anaesthetics in cases of childbirth; and whether he is prepared to introduce legislation on the subject?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I understand that the question of giving anaesthetics at the time of childbirth is being considered by the Maternal Mortality Committee, and I propose to await their Report on the subject.