§ 37. Mrs. Cullenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the extent to which the provision of maternity beds in Scotland falls short of the need for such beds.
§ Mr. MillanOn the basis recommended in the Montgomery Report pub-44W lished in 1959, 3,700 maternity beds would be needed in Scotland and the present provision is 3,200; but the level of occupancy assumed in the Montgomery Report is well below what is actually being achieved in practice and the proportion of confinements taking place in hospital has now reached 85 per cent. compared with the 70–75 per cent, recommended by the Montgomery Committee.