asked the Minister of Health to state the number of hospitals under his control that do not allow daily visiting of children.

At the end of 1954, 506 of the 1,362 hospitals admitting children did not allow daily visiting. On the advice of my Standing Medical Advisory Committee, I propose shortly to send hospital authorities a further memorandum on the subject.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that private nursing homes allow children to visit their parents and relatives who are sick in those homes? Will he make the same facilities available in State hospitals as are at present available to those who can pay for their treatment?

I will do everything I can to encourage it, but it is a matter which must be left to those in charge of hospitals and not one on which I would issue an absolute direction.