I wish to add a few sentences tonight because it is true to say that this Adjournment debate was initiated by the action of the Southampton Branch of the Royal College of Midwives in sending a deputation to see both the hon. Gentleman the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Dr. King) and myself. How well the members of that deputation outlined the conditions of service and their aspirations and hopes we have heard tonight in the admirable address to which we have just listened. In the few moments that I intend to occupy, I will therefore only underline one or two points.

First, the conditions of service. The hon. Member for Itchen outlined the time which the midwives, particularly the domiciliary midwives, are on duty. It is not generally known that they spend something like 132 hours a week on call. The group in the Southampton area made a time study and the average time when they are actually working, on duty—not merely on call, but working on cases—amounted to 67 hours a week, compared with 44 hours which is the desirable figure in the hospital service. The rates of pay have already been mentioned, together with the few opportunities for promotion. I think it fair to say that if the service is to continue to enjoy its present prestige, there must be some greater attraction to bring new recruits into the service.

One difficulty that was mentioned to me, although I know that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary cannot do anything about this item, was the source of irritation concerning the claim for tax purposes on the use of a motor car. A certain allowance is given by the local authority, but often the expense of running the car exceeds that amount and it is some irritation to the midwives to find that their claim is limited.

The deputation that came to see me comprised most admirable members of the profession. They were all people with a sense of vocation and I would not like anyone in this House to get the impression that they were intent on pressing the financial side. They all stated frankly that they would still be midwives whatever the pay and the conditions because it was a job they liked doing and which they felt was worth while. They expressed concern, however, about the future of the profession, about recruiting and about the loss of trained members through marriage and service abroad. I hope that in his reply my hon. Friend will do something to reassure them.