§ Mr. Bessellasked the Minister of Health when he will reply to the letters sent to him on 2nd October and 11th October by the hon. Member for Bodmin, regarding the inquiry at St. Lawrence's Hospital, Bodmin.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI replied yesterday.
§ Mr. Bessellasked the Minister of Health (1) whether the name of the contributor to the book entitled "Sans Everything" who made allegations of cruelty and neglect at St. Lawrence's Hospital, Bodmin, will be disclosed by the committee of inquiry to any person required to give evidence to the Committee in respect of these allegations;
(2) whether the committee of inquiry investigating allegations of cruelty and neglect at St. Lawrence's Hospital, Bodmin, contained in a book entitled "Sans Everything", will be empowered to disclose the nature of these allegations and their source to any members of the medical staff who may be required to give evidence during the course of the investigation;
(3) to what extent he verified the allegations about St. Lawrence's Hospital, Bodmin, contained in a book entitled "Sans Everything" before ordering an inquiry into these allegations; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI am not willing to confirm or refute assumptions about the identity of the hospitals which were the subject of allegations in "Sans Everything" but where serious allegations of malpractice are made it is my duty to see that they are investigated. So far as "Sans Everything" inquiries are concerned if a witness so indicates to one of 573W the Independent Committees of Inquiry his name will be revealed to no one except the members of the Committee and its secretary, who will themselves observe complete confidentiality in the matter. Witnesses who wish to make allegations against named individuals must, however, be prepared to give evidence in the presence of the persons accused.