Civil Defence Act 1939

50 Powers of Minister of Health.

(1) It shall be, and shall be deemed always to have been, part of the functions of the Minister of Health (in this Part of this Act referred to as " the Minister ") to make arrangements—

(a) to secure that, in the event of war, facilities will be available for the treatment in hospital of casualties occurring in Great Britain from hostile attack;

(b) for the training in advance, in nursing, of persons who express their willingness to offer their services in the event of war;

(c) for the provision of a bacteriological service for controlling the spread of infectious disease in the event of war.

(2) In order to afford accommodation for the treatment in hospital of such casualties as aforesaid, the arrangements aforesaid may provide for the removal, in the event of a hostile attack or of the Minister having reason to expect a hostile attack, of sick persons, persons of unsound mind and mental defectives from the place in which they are being treated or maintained, and for their treatment or maintenance, as the case may be, in some other place.

(3) For the purpose of any arrangements under this section, the Minister shall have power—

(a) to acquire and hold land, erect buildings and execute works;

(b) to acquire and hold medical stores and equipment, and do all such things as may appear to him expedient for the storage, preservation and transport of such stores and equipment;

(c) to enter into agreements with local authorities, governing bodies of voluntary hospitals and such other persons as he thinks fit.

(4) In relation to the acquisition of land by the Minister under this Part of this Act, the provisions of the Lands Clauses Acts, as amended by the [9 & 10 Geo. 5. c. 57.] Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919, are hereby incorporated with this Act, subject to the exceptions and modifications mentioned in the Second Schedule to this Act.

(5) Any land, stores or equipment held by the Minister under this Part of this Act shall be held on behalf of His Majesty, and the Minister shall, subject to such conditions as may be determined by the Treasury, have power for any purpose to manage, sell, let or exchange any such land (including power to pay or receive money in respect of equality of exchange) and to dispose of any such stores or equipment.

(6) In this Part of this Act the expression " treatment " in relation to a hospital does not include treatment in a first-aid post, and the expression " medical stores and equipment" includes stretchers, ambulances and any other articles which, in the opinion of the Minister, are necessary or expedient for facilitating the treatment in hospital of casualties occurring in Great Britain from hostile attack.