HC Deb 31 July 1940 vol 363 cc1244-5W
Mr. Mainwaring

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the present regulation providing no assistance for billeting children of parents assessed as able to pay 6s. per week, he will reconsider the matter with a view to making some provision in those cases where the means of the parents do not extend beyond the 6s. per head and thus secure that children in these cases are paid for and maintained at the same standard as those of parents able to pay less than 6s. per week towards their cost?

Miss Horsbrugh

The limitation to which the hon. Member refers is applicable in cases in which the parent has elected to make arrangements privately. I have no reason to suppose that any hardship has resulted, but if the hon. Member has any particular cases in mind I shall be glad to have inquiries made into the facts.

Mr. Groves

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the capitation fee for treatment of unaccompanied evacuated children was fixed; why the official notification of how the fund was to be distributed was only made by a circular issued in May, although this was arranged by the Scottish Central Medical War Committee on the 29th February, 1940; when was the first payment disbursed from the pool; how much to date has been paid into the pool; and what is the amount of the undistributed balance?

Mr. E. Brown

The fee referred to by my hon. Friend was fixed in August last and intimation was then made that the distribution of the moneys amongst medical practitioners would be carried out by local medical emergency committees (now local medical war committees) in accordance with schemes to be devised by them. The practice is for a single payment to be made each quarter by the Department of Health for Scotland to the Scottish Central Medical War Committee, and for the latter committee to pay each local committee its share as determined by the number of children in its area. Payments have been made to the central committee as follows:

24th January, 1940, £5,600.

20th April, 1940, £4,426 10s.

29th July, 1940, £3,020 17s. 6d.

These payments represent the total sums payable to 30th June. A payment for the current quarter will be due in October.