Lady Grant of Monymusk: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women received analgesia in childbirth in their own homes in the city and county of Aberdeenshire, respectively, in the years 1947 and 1948, who were attended by midwives only.
Lady Grant of Monymusk: Could the right hon. Gentleman give the percentage for the county, compared with the total births at home during these years?
Lady Grant of Monymusk: Will the Secretary of State tell the House whether, in fact, he has power to impose a duty upon local health authorities in Scotland?
Lady Grant of Monymusk: asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will permit married women under 60 to contribute voluntarily to the National Insurance scheme, when their husbands are over 65.
Lady Grant of Monymusk: Is the Minister aware that, while this is a transitional stage, nevertheless great hardship is caused to widows who have to start paying insurance just at a time when they are less able to do so than when their husbands are alive?
Lady Grant of Monymusk: Perhaps I did not make myself clear. Is the Minister aware that I was referring to women who are younger than their husbands and who want to contribute voluntarily while their husbands are alive, because, if they are not allowed to do so until they become widows, it means that they have to start contributing at a time when they can least afford it?
Lady Grant of Monymusk: asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a further statement on the provision of civilian clothing for National Service men on release from the Services.
Lady Grant of Monymusk: asked the Minister of Health at what date he asked the Medical Research Council to solve, as quickly as possible, the problem of finding a safe and effective analgesic agent for midwifery, and to devise for its administration, apparatus that is light, simple and requires a minimum of maintenance.
Lady Grant of Monymusk: Can the Minister tell the House what stage the researches have now reached, and can he also give an assurance that he will press forward with the provision of transport and the present forms of analgesia in all districts, and not wait until new forms are known?
Lady Grant of Monymusk: Is the Minister aware that, as this fight for the provision of analgesia for every mother in the country has been a fight against the prejudice of the entire community, it is quite unnecessary to make party political points?
Lady Grant of Monymusk: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what date will all practising midwives be trained in the use of analgesia.
Lady Grant of Monymusk: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether all local authorities in Scotland are carrying out schemes to provide analgesia and transport to every confinement in their areas.
Lady Grant of Monymusk: Will the Secretary of State ensure that in Scotland local authorities will have these new forms of apparatus when available, and in the meantime will he press forward with the provision of the Minnit apparatus, unsatisfactory though it is?
Lady Grant of Monymusk: Is the Secretary of State aware that the hon. Lady is somewhat misinformed on this matter, and is he also aware that in parts of Scotland it is quite impossible to provide a doctor for every confinement? It is in those areas that we seek to provide trained midwives equipped with proper analgesic apparatus.
Lady Grant of Monymusk: asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the final recommendations of the Medical Research Council as to the latest types of analgesic drugs and apparatus suitable to be administered by midwives alone.
Lady Grant of Monymusk: Will the right hon. Gentleman make a statement on the subject at the earliest opportunity, and ask the Medical Research Council if they are actively considering the matter?
Lady Grant of Monymusk: asked the Minister of Food at what date he proposes to decontrol the price and distribution of poultry.
Lady Grant of Monymusk: Can the Minister give an assurance that, in view of the reduced meat ration, he will implement his promise to decontrol the price and distribution of poultry at an early date?
Lady Grant of Monymusk: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase there has been in the number of persons employed in the Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, since 5th July, 1948; and in which departments.
Lady Grant of Monymusk: Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate whether this increase is on the administrative side, and, if so, whether he is satisfied that the extra people employed are, in fact, fully occupied and necessary?