§ 23. Sir H. NIELDasked the Minister of National Service whether there had been any alteration in the constitution of medical boards for the examination of recruits in the London district or elsewhere; what is the nature of the alteration and in what area has the alteration been effected; by what authority has any such alteration been carried out; and will he give particulars of any Departmental Order or other document containing, or referring to, the same?
§ Mr. BECKThe question of my hon. Friend is probably based on the fact that under the stress of the sudden large increase in the number of recruits for the Army it was recently found necessary to increase the number of acting National Service medical boards in certain districts. It was anticipated that it might become necessary, in cases of urgency, for temporary emergency boards to consist of two doctors. I am happy, however, to state that it has been found possible to avoid the necessity of any board being constituted of less than three doctors, and this is the minimum number responsible for the passing of any recruit.
§ Sir H. NIELDWhy has the board, which we were assured in this House would consist of five men, been reduced to three men without any notification to this House?
§ Mr. BECKI must have notice of that, but I understand that those who deal with this matter are perfectly satisfied as long as three doctors examine the man.
§ Sir H. NIELDDoes not the hon. Gentleman know that the attention of the Director-General of National Service was specifically called to a circular issued by the Assistant Director of Medical Service in London reducing the board from five to three without any intimation that it was a temporary arrangement?
§ Mr. BECKMy right hon. Friend has had his attention called to an alleged circular which suggested reducing the medical boards to two. That was objected to, and my answer deals with that point.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the hon. Gentleman lay on the Table of the House the secret orders that have been issued, and is he aware that doctors in many places have flatly refused to accept them?
§ Mr. BECKI am not aware of the last part: in fact my evidence is to the contrary. But I do not understand that there are any medical instructions of the kind. The Department of National Service, in common with other bodies, has issued certain—
§ Mr. BECKNo; there is nothing secret about them, but the criticism was made that we were employing a system of two doctors. That was objected to, and I am happy to say that it has been found possible to avoid that, and that each recruit will be examined by three doctors.
§ 24. Sir H. NIELDasked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that recruits on the conclusion of their medical examination at 62, Conduit Street are being requested to put their signature to a paper containing a list of names but no heading or explanatory statement, and are told, in answer to any inquiry as to the object of the request, that it is an acknowledgment or statement that they have been carefully examined, or that they have had a satisfactory medical examination; whether he is aware that these signatures are as a rule asked for before the grading has been determined or communicated, and while the recruit is still unclothed; and if he will give instructions to discontinue the practice immediately?
§ Mr. BECKMy hon. Friend's information is not quite accurate. It was desired to obtain the observations of the men themselves as to whether they had any complaints to make in connection with their examination. It was thought that this was in the interests of the recruits themselves, and would be a valuable guide to those entrusted with the arrangements and conduct of their medical examination. But, as it would appear from my hon. Friend's question that the course adopted by the medical board at Conduit Street is open to misconception, I will undertake to see that a procedure is adopted which cannot give rise to any such misconception.