13. Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that the five days given for the consideration, in his 212W Department, of the representations which he had invited to his draft proposals for regional hospital boards in December, 1946, was sufficient; whether he is aware that no acknowledgment was received by Westmorland County Council to their criticisms of his proposals until five weeks after the publication of S.R. & O., No. 2158; and whether he will ensure that such treatment of responsible local authorities by his Department is not repeated in future.
§ Mr. J. EdwardsMy right hon. Friend reviewed personally all comments received. The resulting Order was published, with notices in the Press, on the day it was laid. This seemed a reasonable way of indicating the decision to all who had commented. No discourtesy was intended by the absence of separate replies to all by letter.