§ Mr. MUGGERIDGEasked the Minister of Health what is regarded as the minimum number of midwives required to be in service in a district before the council of the district may be constituted the local supervising authority under Section 62 of the Local Government Act; and, in view of the dissatisfaction in the urban district of Dagenham, where 23 midwives are employed, of whom 19 reside in the district, he will reconsider his refusal to make an order directing that the urban district council shall become the local supervising authority?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe number of midwives practising in a district is not the only consideration to be taken into account in deciding whether the council of the district should be constituted the local supervising authority under the Midwives Acts. In the case of the urban district of Dagenham I came to the conclusion that it would be premature to give these powers and duties to the district council having regard to the recent constitution of the council and its brief experience in administering maternity and child welfare services, and I should not feel justified in reconsidering that decision.