Electricity Supplies

Oral Answers to Questions — Hospitals – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 April 1964.

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Photo of Mr Willie Hamilton Mr Willie Hamilton , Fife West 12:00, 27 April 1964

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths took place in hospitals as a result of recent troubles in the electricity supply industry.

Photo of Mr Willie Hamilton Mr Willie Hamilton , Fife West

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the whole country will welcome that statement—with the possible exception of the proprietors of the Sunday Express? Can he say what progress has been made to ensure that all hospitals have an auxiliary alternative supply of electricity generation since the last scare in this context?

Photo of Mr Anthony Barber Mr Anthony Barber , Doncaster

The hon Gentleman would have done better to have expressed his gratitude to all those working in the hospital service who went to great trouble to cope with what in his Question he calls the "recent troubles". In the past year an additional £1 million has been spent on special standby electrical equipment. Nearly 100 generators from central stocks were distributed to hospitals and arrangements were made for some 400 mobile generators to be made available by the Armed Forces.

Photo of Mr Willie Hamilton Mr Willie Hamilton , Fife West

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in view of the Government's attitude to nurses' salaries, the expression of gratitude lies better in our mouths than it does in theirs?