§ 67. Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDasked the Home Secretary, having regard to the fact that in cases of appeal under Section 8 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, the present Regulations do not state whether the worker posseses a right to have his medical attendant present at the examination by the medical referee, whether he is notified of the right; and whether he can see his way to making such modifications in the Regulations as to establish such a right and to provide for the worker being notified of its existence?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Regulations give both workman and employer the right to make any oral statements, or to submit any written statements, to the referee; and this includes a written statement by the workman's or employer's doctor, but they do not give either party the right to have his doctor present at the examination. The question of giving such a right was carefully considered when the Regulations were framed in 1907, and it was decided that it would be undesirable to do so. I am not aware of any sufficient ground for making a change in the Regulations on this point. I may add that it is open to the referee, if he thinks it desirable, to allow the doctors to be present and to question them, and this is, I believe, sometimes done.