§ 65. Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in further reference to the case of Miss Emily Edwards, if he will say whether power is given to the Medical Referee, in case of industrial disease, to consult any doctor who has previously had the case under consideration on his own initiative, without any application to that effect necessarily having been made by the parties themselves?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Regulations require that the Referee shall, before deciding on the matter referred to him, make a personal examination of the workman, and shall consider any statements made or submitted by either party. There 1879 is nothing in the Regulations to prevent the Referee, if he should think it necessary, consulting any doctor who has previously had the case before him, but it would be a matter entirely for his own discretion.