A Chronology of State Medicine, Public Health, Welfare and Related ...

Trade Union and Labour Relations Act (c.52) replaced the 1971 Act; set out the status
and regulation of trade unions and employers' associations; the restrictions on legal liability;
and procedures relating to trade disputes. See 1975 and 1976.
Legal Aid Act (c.4) consolidated and extended previous legislation. See 1988.
Education (Mentally Handicapped Children) Scotland Act (c.27). See 1979.
1974 Cont 1
1974 cont Slaughter Houses Act (c.3) replaced the 1958 act.
The White Paper "Democracy in the National Health Service: Membership of Health
Authorities" suggested increasing the number of local councillors on the boards of the area
and regional authorities of the NHS and adding representatives of all who work in the NHS in
addition to those of the doctors and nurses; and strengthening the role of the community
health councils. Similar proposals were made in Wales and Scotland.
The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (chairman, Sir Brian Flowers)
published a report "Pollution Control: Progress and Problems", Cmnd.5780. See 1976.
The Report of the Committee on Conduct in Local Government, Cmnd.5636, led to the
joint publication by the local authorities associations and the government of a National Code
of Local Government Conduct in 1975. See 1976.
The Committee on the Working of the Abortion Act (chairwoman, Mrs Justice
Elizabeth Lane) in its extensive report, Cmnd.5579, concluded that the act had been
beneficial and that there had been few abuses, but viewed with disquiet the high proportion of
women obtaining abortions in the private sector and the wide variations in abortion rates
between regions. While recognising the strain it had placed on the NHS, the committee
unanimously supported the provisions of the act.
The Working Party on "Social Work Support for the Health Service" (chairman, GJ
Otton) made recommendations regarding the collaboration between general practitioners and
hospitals and social services departments; and the training and management of the social
workers involved. See 1976.
The Committee of Inquiry into Pay and Related Conditions of Service of Nurses and
Midwives (chairman, Lord Halsbury) recommended substantial increases in salaries. See
1982.
The third report of the Joint Working Party on the Organisation of Medical Work in
Hospitals (1967 and 1972) reviewed progress and made further recommendations about the
divisional system and other medical advisory committees in the reorganised NHS.
The Interim Report of the Committee on Mentally Abnormal Offenders, Cmnd. 5698,
(chairman, Lord Butler, 1902-82, politician), stressed the need for the provision of secure
units situated in centres of population and closely accessible to other medical facilities,
academic departments of forensic psychiatry and the courts. The final report, Cmnd.6244,
was published in 1975.
The Department of the Environment published a report "The Monitoring of the
Environment in the UK". See 1976.
The Department of Health and Social Security published "Community Hospitals: Their
Role and Development in the NHS", setting out how small hospitals could serve patients not
requiring the services of the high technology of district general hospitals.
The Working Party on Dental Services recommended an increase in the number of
dental therapists. See 1980.
The Joint Working Party on the Decentralised Clinical Research Scheme in England
and Wales (chairman, Sir Douglas Black) (see 1958) considered that the scheme had "amply
proved its value" and should be continued; reaffirmed that the scheme should support a wide