HC Deb 18 May 1956 vol 552 cc207-9W
Dr. D. Johnson

asked the Minister of Health to enumerate the working parties and committees who are due to report on different aspects of the National Health Service; and the object of each, its membership and date of appointment, and the date on which he expects to receive its report.

Mr. Turton

Following is a list in order of the date of appointment:

  1. 1. Mileage Committee
    1. (i)Object.—To examine in detail the distribution of the Central Mileage Fund for 208 general medical practitioners in England and Wales and to make recommendations.
    2. (ii)Membership.—Eleven.
    3. (iii) Appointed August, 1950.
    4. (iv) A Report is in draft.
  2. 2.Committee of Inquiry on the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (set up jointly with Minister of Labour and National Service)
    1. (i)Object.—To review in all its aspects the existing provision for the rehabilitation. training and resettlement of disabled persons, full regard being had to the need for the utmost economy in the Government's contribution, and to make recommendations
    2. (ii)Membership.—Thirteen.
    3. (iii) Appointed March, 1953.
    4. (iv) Report is expected later this year.
  3. 3.Working Party on the Recruitment and Training of Health Visitors (set up jointly with Secretary of State for Scotland and Minister of Education)
    1. (i)Object.—To investigate the proper field of work, recruitment and training of health visitors in the National Health Service and School Health Service.
    2. (ii)Membership.—Six.
    3. (iii) Appointed September, 1953.
    4. (iv) Report has been received and will be published shortly.
  4. 4.Committee on Hospital Supplies
    1. (i)Object—To investigate and report on the organisation of all forms of hospital supplies, including their purchase, storage and issue. throughout the National Health Service.
    2. (ii)Membership.—Eleven.
    3. (iii) Appointed November, 1954.
    4. (iv) An interim report is expected in June.
  5. 5.Joint Sub-Committee on the Control of Dangerous Drugs and Poisons in Hospitals
    1. (i)Object.—To consider and report on the desirability of adopting a standard system for determining the responsibility for the custody and issue of dangerous drugs and scheduled poisons in hospitals, and for recording the requisitioning and issuing of them.
    2. (ii)Membership.—Eleven.
    3. (iii) Appointed in December. 1954
    4. (iv) Report is expected before the end of the year.
  6. 6.Study Group on Maintennace of Building Plant and Grounds
    1. (i)Object.—To advise on proper standard of maintenance of hospital buildings and an adequate system of control of building maintenance expenditure.
    2. (ii)Membership.—Seven.
    3. (iii) Appointed in January, 1955.
    4. (iv) Report is expected shortly.
  7. 7.Committee on Medical Manpower(set up jointly with Secretary of State for Scotland)
    1. (i)Object.—To estimate, on a long-term basis and with due regard to all relevant 209 considerations, the number of medical practitioners likely to be engaged in all branches of the profession in the future, and the consequential intake of medical students required.
    2. (ii)Membership.—Eleven.
    3. (iii) Appointed 21st February, 1955.
    4. (iv) Not yet known.
  8. 8.Committee on Recruitment to the Dental Profession (set up jointly with Secretary of State for Scotland)
    1. (i)Object—To ascertain the reasons for the lack of candidates of suitable calibre for training as dentists and to indicate possible directions in which remedies might be sought.
    2. (ii)Membership.—Eleven.
    3. (iii) Set up on 25th March, 1955.
    4. (iv) Report is expected this summer.
  9. 9.Working Party on Social Workers(set up jointly with Secretary of State for Scotland)
    1. (i)Object.—To inquire into the proper field of work and the recruitment and training of social workers at all levels in the local authorities health and welfare services under the National Health Service and National Assistance Acts, and to particular whether there is a place for a general purposes social worker with an in-service training as a basic grade,
    2. (ii)Membership.—Ten.
    3. (iii) Appointed in June, 1955.
    4. (iv) Not yet known.
  10. 10.Study Group on Application of Electronic Devices to Hospital Accounts and Costing
    1. (i)Object.—To study all available information about existing electronic devices and their potential developments; to consider their possible application to hospital accounts and costing; and to estimate what the cost might be of introducing them and what staff savings might follow.
    2. (ii)Membership.—Eleven.
    3. (iii) Appointed in December, 1955.
    4. (iv) Not yet known.
  11. 11.Committee on Maternity Services
    1. (i)Object.—To review the present organisation of the maternity services in England and Wales, to consider what should be their content and to make recommendations.
    2. (ii)Membership.—Twelve.
    3. (iii) Appointed in April, 1956.
    4. (iv) Not yet known.