§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Report of the Woodbine Parish Committee of Inquiry into Hospital Building Maintenance will be published; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Crossman:The Report was published today by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales and I are grateful to the Chairman, Mr. David Woodbine Parish, and members of the Committee of Inquiry for the valuable and comprehensive inquiry which they have undertaken.
The Report analyses the existing patterns of organisation and staffing for hospital building maintenance, and the duties, responsibilities, qualifications and training of the supervisory staff involved, and makes recommendations for their improvement and for the improvement of estate management.
My right hon. Friends and I are in agreement with the Committee's view that sound estate management requires greater attention to building maintenance and the way it is organised and managed in hospitals and we are so informing hospital authorities. The Report will be considered as a matter of urgency with representatives of hospital authorities and with professional and staff interests and immediate action will be taken in appropriate cases. The consultations will be designed to produce a further programme of action, and a 154W timetable for implementation, taking into account the additional expenditure and manpower required.
A copy of the Report has been placed in the Library of the House.