asked the Secretary of State for War if the Baragwanath Hospital at Johannesburg has been handed back to the South African Government; and whether suitable accommodation has been found for all of those tubercular patients who have returned or are returning to this country.

This hospital closed on 15th May, 1947, and has since been made available to the authorities in South Africa. The patients who were evacuated from this hospital back to England by hospital ship in May, and who needed further hospital treatment, were sent to suitable hospitals and sanatoria in this country. Of the two patients who were not fit for the journey in May, one will be given suitable accommodation when she eventually returns to this country; the other has already returned.

Would the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the accommodation which is being found in this country for those who have been returned is of the correct type and is not merely temporary accommodation provided by the army until such time as space is available in civil sanatoria?

I cannot enter into details of hospital accommodation at this stage, but I am naturally anxious to find the most suitable accommodation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as long ago as last April, his predecessor gave an assurance that the army would accommodate these patients until such time as the Minister of Health could deal with them in civil sanatoria? Has he followed that up and made sure that the patients are being sent to the most suitable hospitals as soon as possible?

Now that the hon. and gallant Member has reminded me about that assurance given by my predecessor, I will follow it up.