§ Sir W. Smithers71, 72 and 73. asked the Minister of Health (1) what disciplinary action he proposes to take against those concerned in making payments of wages and salaries in excess of the approved scales; and what action he is taking to secure adherence to the scales laid down, as commented upon by the 252W Comptroller and Auditor General in Section 6 of Command Paper No. 158;
(2) if, in the interests of the taxpayer, he will insist that hospitals maintain adequate store accounts and inventories, in accordance with the criticism of the Comptroller and Auditor General in Section 8 of Command Paper No. 158;
(3) what action he is taking to speed up the communication to hospital authorities comments made by the auditors in accordance with the Comptroller and Auditor General's remarks in Section 5 of Command Paper No. 158.
§ 76. Mr. Edward Daviesasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the comments made on the Health Services Accounts, 1949–50, by the Comptroller and Auditor General; and what steps have been, or are being, taken to deal with the matters referred to.
§ Mr. MarquandI would refer the hon. Members to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) on 9th May.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Health (1) what further steps he is taking to bring the pricing of prescriptions up to date, in view of the criticisms made by the Comptroller and Auditor General in Section II of Command Paper No. 158;
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that an adequate system of control is in operation for paying hospital wages and salaries, in accordance with the Comptroller and Auditor General's criticism in Section 7 of Command Paper No. 158;
(3) if he will take steps to ensure that the purchase of all supplies by hospital management committees shall be made under the system of competitive tendering as indicated by the Comptroller and Auditor General in Section 9 of Command Paper No. 158;
(4) how much money has been paid to ophthalmic medical practitioners for tests, although the tests had been carried out in hospitals at which practitioners were employed as part-time consultants; and what steps he is taking to recover these amounts and to prevent irregularities in future, in accordance with the criticism of the Comptroller and Auditor General in Section 13 of Command Paper No. 158.
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§ Mr. MarquandI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) on 9th May.