§ Dr. Summerskillasked the Minister of Health how many authorities administering the domiciliary midwifery service are training their midwives in the use of Minitts apparatus for the relief of pain at childbirth; and how many are still not exercising this power?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe information available in my Department shows that 44 out of 188 local supervising authorities in England and Wales had, as at the 31st December, 1939, made arrangements for training midwives in their areas in the administration of analgesics at childbirth. As the hon. Member is aware, I have no power to give directions to local supervising authorities in this matter, but I hope that any authorities which have not made such arrangements will consider the desirability of doing so as opportunity offers.