§ Mr. GILLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has further considered the question of appointing a few medical referees who will devote the whole of their time to their duties under the Workmen's Compensation Act; and what decision he has come to in the matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)There would be considerable difficulties 1023 in connection with the appointment of whole time medical referees. Under the present system referees are appointed for particular County Court circuits, the main part of their duties being to advise in cases in which the judges require their assistance; and the work in any circuit would not be sufficient to occupy a referee's whole time. If the referees were to be whole-time officers, the area for which they would have to be appointed would be so large that a great deal of time would be taken up and expense incurred in travelling: and the arrangement would also be much less convenient to the workmen in the cases where they have to attend on the referee. Another important point is that it is the practice to select the referees as far as possible from doctors engaged in active surgical work, the experience gained in which is of great advantage in deciding on the difficult questions referred to them as referees: and I am doubtful whether I should be able to secure doctors of the same high standing if they were required to give their whole time. I fully agree that the question is one which should be considered, but I think it must stand over till the general inquiry into the Act, or possibly the somewhat similar inquiry into the appointment and duties of certifying surgeons, is set on foot.