Dr. Morganasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the salary of the Governor of Barbados, and what amount has been voted by the Government of Barbados, British West Indies, this year for maternity and child welfare work; what was the amount in 1939, and how many clinics now exist?
§ Mr. George HallThe salary of the Governor of Barbados is £2,500 a year with a duty allowance of £500 a year. Detailed and comprehensive figures of the expenditure on maternity and child welfare work are not available, since in some cases it is impossible to distinguish between expenditure on this work and on the medical services as a whole. Total Government expenditure on the Medical Departments in Barbados in 1941–42 is estimated at £69,592. The expenditure for 1938–39 was £56,380. Of this sum it is estimated that £35,370 will be expended on the General Hospital during 1941–42. Expenditure on the Hospital in 1938–39 was £29,691. I have not information to show what proportion of the Hospital's work is concerned with maternity and child welfare. Included in the expenditure on the Medical Departments in 1941–42 is a sum of £220 provided for the Barbados General Nursing Council for the training of midwives and nurses. £20 was expended on the Council in 1938–39.
In addition to the expenditure on the Medical Departments, subsidies amounting to £375 were voted for 1941–42 to three Children's Welfare Leagues. The subsidy for this purpose in 1938–39 was £200. Up-to-date figures are not available for the number of Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics at present in existence, but in 1939 there were two Infant Welfare Clinics which were assisted by Government.
It will be appreciated that, under the system in force in Barbados, provision in 1544W matters of health and sanitation is made separately by each parish authority, the money required being raised by the Vestries, and not provided by the Colonial Government.