HC Deb 21 February 1912 vol 34 cc613-4
Mr. GINNELL

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the exclusion of Irish and Scottish surgeons from some surgical appointments in England on the ground of an alleged inferiority of their degrees; if there is real professional inferiority, whether he will say in what it consists; and, if the allegation is unfounded, whether the Board will withhold its sanction of surgical appointments made subject to the exclusion complained of within the jurisdiction of the Board?

The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)

I am not sure to what appointments the hon. Member refers. Perhaps he will be good enough to communicate with me on the subject.

Mr. LYNCH

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that, in view of the great disparity of qualifications in the medical service, the time has come to institute, at least for State appointments, a uniform examination?

Mr. BURNS

In my Department we take no notice of the religion of any of the applicants. On their merits only are they appointed.