HC Deb 02 April 1917 vol 92 cc921-2
92. Mr. W. THORNE

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, seeing that his Department wrote a letter informing the panel doctors that no alteration would be made in the constitution of the Advisory Committee at the present time, whether he will explain why, in spite of this promise, the Advisory Committee is to be reconstituted in such a manner as to give but one place out of thirty to the medical profession?

Sir EDWIN CORNWALL (Comptroller of the Household)

A letter was written in May, 1916, stating that it was not then proposed to alter the constitution of the Advisory Committee. It has, however,. now been decided to reconstitute the Committee and reduce its numbers from 168 to about 30. I am prepared to add one or two more doctors to the Committee, or, alternatively, to appoint a small separate medical Advisory Committee, and I am at present in consultation with representatives of the medical profession on the subject.