– in the House of Commons am ar 28 Gorffennaf 1925.
Mr Walter Forrest
, Batley and Morley
asked the Minister of Pensions whether any tuberculous ex-service men have been sent for their health to Switzerland to undergo the Spahlinger treatment or otherwise; and, if so, what are the Replications with respect to the selection of such cases?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Lieut.-Colonel Stanley):
A few cases of pulmonary tuberculosis have been sent to sanatoria in Switzerland by the Ministry. The cases selected are those in which the Department is satisfied, on the advice of their experts in tuberculosis, that treatment abroad is essential and that equally good results cannot be expected from the facilities available in this country. I am informed that the Spahlinger treatment referred to has in fact been given in certain cases as an incident of their sanatorium treatment, but the resulting evidence as to the value of the treatment has not, in the opinion of my medical advisers, justified the sending of patients at the public expense expressly for this form of treatment.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
