§ Mr. Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies approximately how many hospital patients in Jamaica had to sleep two or three to a bed in 1956; and what steps are being taken to provide more hospital accommodation.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Government of Jamaica tell me that no statistics are available on this, though overcrowding exists in many hospitals, particularly in children's wards. In the past five years three new hospitals providing another 424 beds have been built, and work will be started this year to replace two obsolete hospitals. The question of extending the University College Hospital is under consideration. The Jamaican Govern-are also concentrating on improvement of existing hospitals, and on a programme to build 100 health centres in the next five years.