§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health precisely how, and on what date, was the list of applicants for appointments as chairmen of medical boards for the examination of recruits compiled by the then Central Emergency Committee of the British Medical Association; to what extent were the appointments advertised, and when and in what papers did the advertisements appear; what factors determined the applicants' standing in the profession; and who decided them?
§ Mr. ElliotAs I said in the reply which I gave the hon. Member on 9th April, chairmen were appointed after consideration by my medical officers of the names of all the practitioners, numbering over 4,000, who offered service on medical boards. No list of applicants for appointments as chairmen was compiled by the Central Emergency Committee of the British Medical Association. The remaining parts of the Question, therefore, do not arise.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health how and when it was made known 548W to the entire medical profession that applications had to be made for appointment on recruiting medical boards whether as chairmen or members; to whom had the applications to be made; what particulars of qualifications, age and experience had to be furnished; and why were not advertisements on the subject published in all medical journals?
§ Mr. ElliotIn the early part of 1938 the British Medical Association, at my request, inquired of each general practitioner over the age of 50 who had replied to the general questionnaire on National Service issued to the whole medical profession by the Central Emergency Committee, whether he was willing to serve on a medical board and to have his name submitted to my Department for consideration in that connection. Each practitioner so willing was asked to state his qualifications and age and to give details of his professional work, including national health insurance practice and any appointments held. In view of these steps it was unnecessary to publish advertisements on the subject.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health what, precisely, is the machinery of the Central Medical War Committee and its local committees for the selection of individual practitioners as medical officers for the Forces without dislocation or shortage of doctors for civilian needs; when was the machinery set up; and when was it approved by him?
§ Mr. ElliotI am sending the hon. Member a copy of a letter setting out the procedure for the selection of medical practitioners for service with His Majesty's Forces, which, with my approval, was issued by the Central Medical War Committee to its local committees on 9th April, 1940