§ Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions have been issued to regional hospital boards to reduce their expenditure; and on what items economies have to be effected.
§ Mr. J. StuartI have recently asked regional hospital boards to see that even more than the usual care is exercised this year to eliminate all unnecessary expenditure. In particular, the recruitment of 137W additional nursing, domestic, administrative and clerical staff will have to be justified by reference to specific needs. A reduction of hospital building work, of the order of 10 per cent., is being made to release labour and materials for housing and defence purposes.