§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health (1) what are the maximum weekly rates of payment to male and female patients employed in the laundry at the Bexley Hospital; how many hours there are to the normal working week in the laundry; when the present scales were introduced; and what proposals there are to improve the scales where work of a reasonably high standard is achieved;
(2) what are the maximum weekly rates of payment to male and female patients employed in the Darenth Park Hospital; how many hours they can work per week; when the present scales were introduced; and what proposals there are to improve the scales where work of a reasonably high standard is achieved.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithAt Darenth Park Hospital, the maximum weekly rate is 20s. as from May, 1957. Working hours may be up to 44 a week in some parts of the hospital, but few patients in fact work as long as this. In Bexley Hospital laundry the maximum is 10s. as from May, 1957. Work is for 27 to 30 hours weekly.
323WWork is a part of treatment and remuneration as such is therefore not payable. The amount of any rewards paid as an incentive is a matter for individual hospital authorities.
§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health under what circumstances and at what age James Mills, a patient at Darenth Hospital, was certified as a mental defective; what was the date of certification; where he was living at the time; and under which provision of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, he was certified.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithJames Mills appeared before the Court at Birmingham on 22nd February, 1943, on a charge of stealing. In accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, the Court postponed passing sentence and directed that a petition should be presented to a judicial authority for an order under that Act. An order under Section 6 was obtained on 8th March, 1943, when the patient was 18 years of age. He had previously been living at 93, Plumstead Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham.